Comment Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,

On The Declassification Of Memos From The Office Of Legal Counsel

April 1, 2008

 

“It has been more than four months since I asked the White House – again – to declassify the secret Justice Department opinions on interrogation practices.  Today’s declassification of one such memo is a small step forward, but in no way fulfills those requests.  The administration continues to shield several memos even from members of Congress.  The memo they have declassified today reflects the expansive view of executive power that has been the hallmark of this administration.  It is no wonder that this memo, like the now-infamous “Bybee memo”, could not withstand scrutiny and had to be withdrawn.  Like the “Bybee memo”, this memo seeks to find ways to avoid legal restrictions and accountability on torture and threatens our country’s status as a beacon of human rights around the world.”

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Click below to view PDFs of the OLC memo:

Part 1 

Part 2

 

Sen. Leahy Presses White House For Torture Documents October 26, 2007