Feingold Writes Holder: Investigate Bush-Era CIA Policies

Senator Russ Feingold, who has played a leading private and public role in pushing for an investigation into possible illegalities under President Bush, upped his efforts on Tuesday. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the Wisconsin Democrat urged the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into recent revelations about the CIA's Bush-era interrogation program.

"I write to encourage you to do so," Feingold said, "but also to urge you to focus on holding accountable the architects of the CIA's interrogation program. While allegations that individuals may have even gone beyond what was justified by those now-public [Office of Legal Counsel] memos are extremely disturbing, we should not lose sight of the fact that the program itself -- as authorized -- was illegal, not to mention immoral and unwise."

This past week, reports have surfaced that Holder is in the process of deciding whether to appoint a special investigator or prosecutor to look into past interrogation policies. New information about these policies was provided to his office in a classified 2004 CIA Inspector General report. The subject matter is different than the covert program that the CIA reportedly kept secret from Congress at the behest of former Vice President Dick Cheney. But for Feingold, it is no less significant.

"As I said in a letter to President Obama in April, the OLC documents make clear that the details of this program were authorized at the highest levels of government, which is where the need for accountability is most acute," the Senator writes. "Those who developed, authorized and provided legal justification for the interrogations should be held responsible."

"I understand this is a difficult decision for you," Feingold wrote, "and I want to assure you that you will have my full support if you take this important step in furtherance of the rule of law."

The full letter:

feingoldholder -

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Comments

[naschkatze]

A good man, Senator Feingold.

[Coinyer101]

from the letter:
*While allegations that individuals may have even gone beyond what was justified by those now-public [Office of Legal Counsel] memos are extremely disturbing, we should not lose sight of the fact that the program itself -- as authorized -- was illegal, not to mention immoral and unwise*

THANK YOU SENATOR FEINGOLD!YOU ROCK!

[Clearing-Brush]

2012 - Obama out, Feingold in.

[Chace Haynes]

I'd buy that for a dollar!

[Coinyer101]

I can see myself goin' there.....,

[naschkatze]

Yep.

[Darkhorse77]

Me, too. Big time.

[wrender]

I would agree. However, it seems that once someone assumes the office of the Presidency they become quite a different person. I don't think it's possible to find a better example of that than what what we now have with Obama. He sure seemed like the way to go over the past 2 years, but boy were we fooled.

[timberdoodle]

You can't have Holder investigate all the criminal activities or you will end up with most of the previous administration behind bars.

[Clearing-Brush]

So let it be written, so let it be done.

[Telemachus]

A choice quote. Thank you! :)

[Chace Haynes]

Thats what we want...criminals behind bars

[Coinyer101]

let the chips fall where they may. Let some of them stoners out of prison. and we'll make room.....,

[naschkatze]

I think there will be many. Let the ones who just stood by and did nothing go before a truth and reconciliation panel and do mea culpas on television. Let the instigators, architects, and practitioners stand trial and face imprisonment.

[AnthonyVolpe]

To quote Dick Cheney: "So?"

[viper234]

Yeah, well what Holder wants to do doesn't amount to much: He doesn't want any one investigated or prosecuted if they followed the outrageous legal guidelines set out by the Bush/Cheney legal advisors on illegal torture implementation. He doesn't want to investigate or prosecute any of the legal advisors on illegal torture implementation, nor does he want to investigate or prosecute any other member of the Bush Executive Branch. He's just after those who might have slammed a detainee's head into a wall one time more than stated in the torture manual or legal memos, those who might have waterboarded more than defined by the torture manual or legal memos, those who put one too many insects in the small confined box with the detainee since this would be outside what was prescribed by the torture manual or legal memos. In other words, Holder is in search of a "few bad apples" for the Executive Branch to throw to what they perceive as the screaming "mob" and say, "See, we investigated and prosecuted. Case closed." WRONG!

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Note that "highest levels of government" can be construed to include the third-in-line to the presidency.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Feingold ROCKS.

[gfm975]

FEINGOLD is my pick for the DEM ticket in 2012... He does not waiver in his convictions and he's definitely smart enough to be PREZ. Obama has lost me and many others and I hope Sen Feingold will run. He won't be more concerned about appearing bipartisan than doing what's right for America. Barry is a total disappointment... its to bad he couldn't live up to his rhetoric.

[albanianmomforobama]

gfm975
You are dreaming right? How in eargh Feingold will run on 2012? Who cares what you think. Are you really stupid?

[ObamAtomic]

Omg,be nice to a fellow member,his position is well adjusted.
He is a fellow member Gosh.

[naschkatze]

Feingold, the only Senator to speak out against the Patriot Act. I too would vote for him if he challenged Obama.

[constitutional 1]

Clinton had the same assasination plan in place for bin laden

[northstar11]

how do you know that- was it secret?

[Tuckerndfw]

That's true and one reason we know the latest nonsense coming from Leon Panetta & the CIA is unreliable.

The CiA has been assassinating "al qaida operatives" since Clinton was president. It's not new or secret.

Which means Leon Panetta is not telling the truth.

But, we're talking about torturing people, a violation of 18 USC 113c (federal law) regardless who they are.

[ObamAtomic]

Yeah, how you know?
Here you are trowing apples to three.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

But Clinton was the PRESIDENT.

Sheesh.

[ObamAtomic]

What do you know?
Clinton was approached once,Special troops has (BL) in sight, he do not
authorized the take down.

[ObamAtomic]

An offer that Holder can not refuse!
The wheels are moving a little more faster.
:)

[Progrocker]

Russ is one of the few politicians who actually represents the people and not the Corporations. During those times when my level of disgust with our government gets the worst, I think of the fact that Russ is my Senator and it renews my energy to keep fighting and reinforces my determination to keep doing everything I can to help rid our government of Corporatist right wingers and bible thumping hypocrites.
Whether they are Republicans or Democrats, unfortunately it is not just Republicans who serve the status quo instead of their constituents interests.

Once again, Thank you Senator Feingold. Now please go welcome another great friend of the people Al Franken to the Senate and join forces with him to bring the fight to the enemy of the people of this country, the Republican party.

[Tuckerndfw]

I agree with your comment.

All Congressional oversight committees including members from both parties. There is no oversight committee that has only Repubs or Dems as members (that I know of, corrections welcomed).

Which means Dems signed off on everything Bush did. The question is who were they.

They should be likewise prosecuted.

[Telemachus]

"Signed off" ... that's a slippery phrase.

If I tell you I just robbed a bank and also tell you that if you breathe a word about it to anyone I'll have you prosecuted, impeached, your career ruined and you and your family threatened, have you "signed off" on my robbery?

I thought not.

[Didactic Curveball]

Can we clone this man, please? Or clone his cajones and pass them out to the rest of Congress.

[Chace Haynes]

Clone-jones!

[Telemachus]

Heh, heh.

[LemonMeringue]

Hero.

Thank you.

[davyd56]

Feingold is an American hero to me...he has the guts to call it like it is...AND its torture...illegal and crimes were committed. Hold the creeps accountable. Feingold is a great man and he isn't even my state Senator.

[Tuckerndfw]

Senator Feingold is on the right track.

18 USC 113c is the federal law prohibiting torture.

It includes anyone who conspired to commit torture.

Someone in the Obama administration needs to begin a serious investigation into that conspiracy and prosecute anyone in the gov't who conspired to commit torture. Those who actually carried it out are the least relevant.

The president & AG need to do their jobs. Those jobs include prosecuting criminals whether they like it or not.