Leahy asks Justice Department to release CIA detainee documents

[ProSense]

Democrats demand CIA detainee documents

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 36 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A Senate Democrat who will chair its Judiciary Committee next year asked the Justice Department to release newly acknowledged documents setting U.S. policy on how suspects in the war on terrorism are detained and interrogated.

"The American people deserve to have detailed and accurate information about the role of the Bush administration in developing the interrogation policies and practices that have engendered such deep criticism and concern at home and around the world," Sen. Patrick Leahy (news, bio, voting record), D-Vt., wrote Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Snip...

The first document is a directive Bush signed giving the CIA authority to set up detention facilities outside the U.S. and outlining interrogation methods that may be used against detainees.

The second is a 2002 memo from the Justice Department's office of Legal Counsel to the CIA General Counsel regarding interrogation methods that the spy agency may use against top al-Qaida members.

Leahy asked Gonzales to produce any revisions and analyses of those and other memos. He also requested agency documents that interpret the scope of interrogation practices permitted and prohibited by the detainee Treatment Act or the Military Commissions Act.

The Justice Department will respond appropriately, spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said Friday. But he added that "it is vital to protect national security secrets," particularly in sensitive programs overseen by that intelligence committees. Roehrkasse also said the department will weigh whether the documents being sought fall under the category of confidential deliberations, including legal advice.

From Crooks and Liars:

Pat Leahy wants to investigate Laura Ingraham

[JeffR]

1. "The Justice Department will respond appropriately..."

That's the problem. We all know how Gonzo defines "appropriately".

[ProSense]

2. Not a problem! Say it:

subpoena power! Ok, I'll wait until January!

[JeffR]

3. Naw, say it now

Music to my ears.

[pdxmom]

4. Leahy is making a great use of time. Ask for them now, even before

we have the subpoena power, then we can hit the ground running in January. No waiting around to see if they'll respond to the request...they'll have had 2 months to respond to the request without turning over the documents.

Smart man...hope all the others that want information will start making their requests now, so the subpoenas can go out as soon as the new Congress meets.

[ProSense]

5. C&L has audio of Leahy on Ingraham; link in OP. n/t