Sen. Patrick Leahy: WH For Refusing To Supply Torture Docs

Comments Of Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.),
Incoming Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee
On Department Of Justice’s Response To Request
For Documents Relating To Bush Administration’s Interrogation Policies
January 2, 2007

“It is disappointing that the Department of Justice and the White House have squandered another opportunity to work cooperatively with Congress. The Department’s decision to brush off my request for information about the Administration’s troubling interrogation policies is not the constructive step toward bipartisanship that I had hoped for, given President Bush’s promise to work with us.

“I requested two documents concerning CIA interrogation methods, which the Administration recently acknowledged in a lawsuit, and other relevant information. The Administration’s refusal to provide any of this information other than forwarding a couple of public documents suggests that the President’s offer to work with us may have been only political lip service. I have advised the Attorney General that I plan to pursue this matter further at the Committee’s first oversight hearing of the Department of Justice.”

“I hope the Department and the White House will reconsider their response and work with the Judiciary Committee to promptly share this information, with any appropriate confidentiality safeguards. The Committee will continue its efforts to obtain the information that it needs for meaningful oversight and accountability on this and other issues of importance to the American people.”