Darlene Hooley: “I rise today to condemn the alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq. We must take every step possible to investigate the…”

“I rise today to condemn the alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq. We must take every step possible to investigate the shocking allegations, punish any perpetrators, re-examine our entire system of interrogation and confinement to prevent such occurrence from happening in the future. I have called on Attorney General Ashcroft to begin an investigation of abuses committed by private military contractors in Iraq. I circulated this letter to all of my colleagues for review. A hundred Democrats have signed on so far. I hope all my colleagues will join me in this effort. In the year 2000, Congress passed the Military Extra Territorial Jurisdiction Act, which allows the Justice Department to investigate and prosecute criminal action by contractors abroad that are in the employ of the United States Government. This Congress granted the Attorney General this authority for this exact case. Attorney General Ashcroft has the ability to investigate and prosecute any criminal abuse by private contractors. I urge him to begin his investigation immediately.”