Patrick Leahy: “one year ago today, the horrific photos of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison shocked the Nation and tarnished our…”

“one year ago today, the horrific photos of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison shocked the Nation and tarnished our reputation as the world's human rights leader. One year later, we should be able to assure the world that the detainee abuse scandal has been independently and comprehensively investigated and that all those involved, from the people who committed abuses to the officials who set these policies in motion, have been held accountable. Sadly, we cannot give the world this assurance. The administration continues to stonewall on the prisoner abuse scandal and Congress continues to abdicate its oversight responsibility on this issue. Those of us in the Congress who strongly believe that oversight and accountability are paramount to restoring America's reputation as a human rights leader remain 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. This Senate refuses to consider an independent commission, relying instead on the piecemeal investigations conducted by the military, none of which address the significant role of the Central Intelligence Agency in interrogations. With the completion of each of the Pentagon investigations, the need for a comprehensive, independent investigation becomes all the more evident. I am particularly disturbed by recent press reports about the Army Inspector General's investigation into the Abu Ghraib abuse scandal.…”