Jay Bybee Reacts To Release Of Torture Memos

Much has been written about the release of the Bush torture memos, and President Obama's announcement that he will not prosecute CIA agents who carried out the Bush authorized torture.

But what about the unsung heroes, or in this case unsung villains? The writers! Torture memos don't write themselves. They exist because some very dedicated scumbags worked tirelessly to destroy the rule of law.

One of those scumbags is Jay Bybee. And he recently discussed the release of the torture memos and what it's meant for his post "Destroying America" career. Take a look.

Did I forget to mention that Jay Bybee is now a judge? A federal judge? With a lifetime appointment? Well he is!

Now I'm not a lawyer, nor am I currently wanted for any crimes (as far as I know). But, just the idea that my case or the case of someone I care about could be tried in front of Bybee scares the crap out of me.

Would I be able to ask the judge to recuse himself because he's a war criminal?

Would he cite, as legal precedent, episodes of 24?

Imagine having to call a man who thinks it's legal to slam your head into the wall, to lock you in a tiny confinement box with bugs crawling all over you... imagine having to call that man "Your Honor".

Judge Dredd is more like it.

Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter if you're someone who does that sort of thing.

Comments

[bipolar2]

** Neither the old President nor the New can claim immunity.

George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condie Rice, and John Ashcroft sought a legalistic subterfuge to legitimate torture. This was duly created and served up by John Yoo and Jay Bybee. And acted upon by senior figures in the CIA among them George Tenent.

Each is an international conspirator and international criminal for authorizing and facilitating torture as an accepted arm of foreign policy.

As along as Barack Obama stands in the way of an independent prosecutorial investigation of the Bush regime’s criminal acts, he is obstructing justice. This is also true of Eric Holder.

Wholesale interception and data mining of civilian communication carried out against millions of citizens has not yet been legally repudiated as domestic policy. So too kidnapping and torture have not yet been legally repudiated as foreign policy.

The Republic is damaged. Mr. Obama’s verbal assurances notwithstanding, nothing precludes a future dictator manque taking up where Bush left off.

Mr. Obama can neither absolve the conspirators nor expunge their crimes.

[Matthew Filipowicz - Huffpost Blogger]

I agree. An independent prosecutor needs to be appointed.

[madHenry]

It is this simple: he MUST be impeached and removed from the 9th Circuit bench. Case closed!

[ihavenobias]

Amen.

[DASChicago]

Ulterior motive and hidden agenda=Bri­bery=Uneth­ical behavior=Throw the Book at By-By-bee.

[Matthew Filipowicz - Huffpost Blogger]

It really is that simple. Now for getting our politicians on board.

[ESerafina42]

I would work on getting him disbarred first. Probably easier, and it would also be pretty embarrassing to have a disbarred lawyer on the federal bench.

[Matthew Filipowicz - Huffpost Blogger]

Any lawyers out there? Can you be a judge if you're disbarred?

[KevinKSF]

What’s wrong with the lawyers in the US? Both Jay Bybee and John Yoo should be disbarred from ever practicing law again by the American Bar Association.

How could someone with out a license to practice law remain a federal judge or a law professor?

[Matthew Filipowicz - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm with you, Kevin.

[ESerafina42]

I just said the same thing, Keven - didn't see that you'd already said it.