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Thursday, January 15, 2009

Eric Holder Jr: " Waterboarding is Torture"

   From the Blog Of Legal Times comes this from the confirmation hearings going on concerning Eric Holder's nomination for Attorney. General..

Attorney General nominee Eric Holder Jr., in response to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy's first question, said unequivocally that waterboarding amounts to torture.

The question, which nearly sunk the nomination of Attorney General Michael Mukasey, means Holder will have to make a decision, if confirmed, whether to investigate Bush administration officials who condoned the use of the tactic on suspected terrorists.

"I agree with you chairman that waterboarding is torture," Holder said. He also said U.S. officials could be held accountable for transferring prisoners to the custody of foreign agents who use such tactics.

  It is Holder's comments such as these that will have Spector and the rest of the Republicans coming out swinging since they approved of Alberto Gonzales's views and walked in step with Bush.

Leahy, pushing further, asked whether the commander in chief could immunize officials who sanctioned the use of waterboarding against legal fallout. Many have speculated that President George W. Bush may preemptively pardon members of his administration who were involved in devising and carrying out a CIA detention and interrogation program that involved the use of waterboarding and other harsh methods on suspected terrorists.

"Mr. Chairman, no one is above the law," Holder said."The president acts most forcefully when he acts consistent with congressional intent."

    An Attorney General who knows the difference between right and wrong.

    Be Afraid Republicans. Be Very Afraid!

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