Political Quotes

“I would like to start by asking the distinguished Senator from Arizona, Mr. McCain, a question concerning this anti- torture provision, Section 1045. Some have raised the concerns about the exemption in this provision for Federal law enforcement agencies. The concern is that this new provision might supersede other laws, rules, and guidance that apply to Federal law enforcement agencies. The language in the Senate-passed bill made clear that Federal law enforcement agencies could use interrogation techniques outside of the Army Field Manual if those techniques are authorized, noncoercive, and ``designed to elicit voluntary statements and do not involve the use of force, threats, or promises.'' Does the absence of this language in the conference report somehow open the door to the use of coercive interrogation techniques by those agencies? Is that the intent of the law enforcement exception in Section 1045? Mr. McCAIN. No. I assure the Senator from California that this is not the case and that I would not have agreed to any such provision if it were. The conferees decided that the requirement that all U.S. interrogations be conducted in accordance with the Army Field Manual on interrogations should not apply to Federal law enforcement officials for two simple, straightforward reasons.…”