U.S. SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY

Reaction Of Sen. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt., Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee)
To The Findings Of The Fay-Jones Report
On Abuses At Abu Ghraib
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004

“The Fay-Jones Report and the Schlesinger Report have brought us closer to the truth, but each faced severe limitations in scope and mandate. 

“These reports raise additional concerns about ghost detainees that warrant further review, but neither investigation had the necessary authority to fully explore that issue.  We also know that before these abuses occurred in an Iraqi prison, officials at high levels in Washington were at work on ways to minimize, skew or even ignore our laws, policies and agreements on the use of torture. 

“To get the full truth, we need an independent investigation with the power to pick up the trail in Washington and to follow the facts wherever they lead.

“Thousands and thousands of Americans in Iraq are doing the right thing, serving honorably and bravely day after day, under difficult and dangerous conditions.  This scandal has further endangered them and it has tarnished our credibility as a great nation.  The sooner the truth is known, the sooner we can put this sordid chapter behind us.”