Patrick Leahy: “The Bush administration has steadfastly refused to address the black mark on our Nation caused by its interrogation…”

“The Bush administration has steadfastly refused to address the black mark on our Nation caused by its interrogation policies and practices and the resulting abuse of detainees. Some of us in Congress strongly believe that oversight and accountability are paramount to restoring America's reputation as a human rights leader. We have been stymied in our efforts to learn the truth about how this administration's policies trickled down from offices in Washington to cellblocks in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and Afghanistan. The administration's effort, led by Vice President Cheney, to block any legislation that would regulate the treatment of detainees is wrong. Also wrong is the Bush administration's refusal to consider an independent commission to investigate the abuses. It would rather rely on internal, piecemeal investigations conducted within the Defense Department, none of which address the significant role of the Central Intelligence Agency in interrogations. Given the failure of the Republican-controlled Congress to conduct effective oversight, I support the Levin amendment to the Defense authorization bill to establish an independent commission on the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. I have spoken many times about the need for a comprehensive, independent investigation into the abuse of detainees.…”