U.S. Sen. Richard Burr wants U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to hold off on investigating CIA interrogators for suspected abuse of detainees.
Burr, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, was one of nine Republicans signing a letter to Holder, who is reportedly considering an investigation, according to Congressional Quarterly.
In the letter, the senators say Holder ought to focus instead on investigating suspects in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, reports Barb Barrett. And they argue that an investigation would send the wrong message to government interrogators.
“The intelligence community will be left to wonder whether actions taken today in the interest of national security will be subject to legal recriminations when the political winds shift,” the senators wrote.
A Senate investigation has shown that the Bush Justice Department gave authority to the CIA for harsh interrogation techniques, including waterboarding, of detainees. But CQ reports that an upcoming Inspector’s General report will show that many interrogators went beyond those guidelines.
Comments
Bush had class, like Burr
August 20, 2009 - 11:43am — GiggleBoxThanks for playing.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 20, 2009 - 11:34am — lpetrouIt is a big mistake to attempt to prosecute previous administrations over policy disputes. Bush did not go after Clinton and he had a lot of reasons why he could -- and a lot of evidence of wrong doing. But Bush had more class and did not do it. But these leftwing liberal democrats in power today do not have the same class and will do (and have done) anything to destroy the previous administration. What happens when they are gone? Does the next administration investigate them? We will end up in a position where administrations will refuse to do anything at all for fear of being prosecuted for their political positions.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 11:03pm — SeafeverJesse Helms was an honorable and honest senator--there's a premium on those qualities today.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 11:02pm — SeafeverRight. It's only Dimocrats who want to TURN on their own countrymen.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 10:29pm — bnioletComment deleted for inappropriate comment. You are way out of line, SWMP9MM.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 6:37pm — id2formeSenator Burr needs to stop supporting the past administration. It's time to replace him with a progressive, this state has to move forward and not back into the ways of Jesse Helms.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 6:00pm — marcedward1SWMP9MM, among the tortures our 'independent contractors' used was torture and rape of children while the parents were forced to watch. So much for any moral superiority on our part.
Why do you think torture would work to get good intelligence? Because you'd sell out the USA if somebody threatened you? Where has torture ever worked for the USA? Heck, prove me wrong, list 3 times in the long history of the USA where torture 'broke' a terrorist in a 'ticking time bomb scenero'
I bet you got nothing!
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 6:06pm — marcedward1opps accidently posted twice
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 4:17pm — a7hyr64Are you beginning to understand how the rule of law applies to all of us? None are below it, none are above it (except government employees)?
Are you getting all misty over the rule of law now? It is only for the ruled. Keep pretending it is not just some historical view of an America long gone.
Strike up the national anthem. The suckers are still lapping it up.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 4:16pm — JohnPershingThe bigger question is: What is Senator Burr willing to compromise (whore) on with the Obamanoids to get them to back off of Guantanamo?
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 3:48pm — interested860I agree, don't worry about the people who performed illegal torture PROSECUTE the bums that ordered it! I'm talking to you DICK should be in prison Cheney.
Men love darkness better than light because their deeds are evil.
When the truth is your enemy, you know your policy is/was wrong!
We executed Japanese soldiers for doing the same after WW2.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 3:47pm — tarheel73So Senator Burr wants to have CIA interrogators immune even from violating the flawed Bush administration guidelines. Is he trying to send a message that CIA employees do not have to be accountable for illegal behavior? This is not about changing winds--this is about not even following the intructions of the last administration. The Senator needs to explain himself about this. As for investigating suspects responsible for 9-11-2001, that can be done in addition to investigating CIA abuses. Resources are not that limited. But why hasn't that investigation been conducted in the 8 years before now? While we are at it, let's continue looking at whether the last administration intentionally misled Congress and the American public about Iraq's nuclear weapons program--the only justification for the war that the vast majority found acceptable. Too bad Senator Burr doesn't ask more questions himself.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 3:47pm — SWMP9MMThanks to people like Senator Burr we can rest assured our behind the scenes brave people will be able to go on protecting us from those that would slit the throats of your family just to watch you squirm.
Re: Burr: Don't investigate CIA interrogators
August 19, 2009 - 3:31pm — Steven252525Something to hide?