Holder aide rebukes WashTimes report: Holder Has Made No Decisions On Prosecuting Bush Officials

[sabra]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/28/aide-holder-has-made-no-d_n_161971.html

An aide to Eric Holder rejected a report Wednesday suggesting that the Attorney General nominee had pledged not to prosecute members of the Bush administration officials who were complicit in illegal harsh interrogations or torture.

"Eric Holder has not made any commitments about who would or would not be prosecuted," said the aide. "He explained his position to Senator Bond as he did in the public hearing and in responses to written questions."

The statement came hours after the Washington Times quoted Senate Judiciary Committee member Kit Bond saying Holder had privately insisted that he would not conduct such prosecutions. That report caused a stir on the Hill, where Democrats were left wondering whether Holder had privately placated Republican concerns that he would investigate Bush administration officials involved in interrogations.

Publicly, Holder has tried his best to be non-committal on what he would do in regard to torture investigations saying "nobody is above the law," but that he didn't "want to criminalize policy differences that may exist" between administrations. Because he defined waterboarding as torture during his confirmation hearings, it was assumed that he would have a responsibility to investigate the Bush administration admission that they have used waterboarding on a select few detainees. But in a question form offered to Republican Senators on Judiciary he was much more vague (indeed, cold to the idea) when asked if he would prosecute the matter.

[grannie4peace]

1. i say keep them guessing

[LSparkle]

2. He's not going to telegraph what he intends to do ...

I agree with Thom Hartmann -- the Dems have probably been working
on a plan since the election regarding investigations, prosecutions,
etc., and are ready to drop it on the Repugs once Holder has been
confirmed and sworn in. Until then, he's just playing it cool,
like his boss.

[s-cubed]

3. Law of unintended consequences?

Holder, if confirmed, will be starting a new job, as head of a very demoralized organization. He has to establish his credibility with the staff in order to accomplish anything. If doubts have been cast on his integrity with respect to promising not to prosecute torture in order to be confirmed, doesn't he HAVE to investigate, at least, torture in order to have any credibility at all?

[myrna minx]

4. So...it appears that the Washington Times was trying to set the agenda with their disinformation.

Who would have though such unethical journalism would come from the Moonie Times.

[chieftain]

5. Kit Bond is a real loose cannon. It will be interesting to see

the floor vote on this. If Holder gave them anything like the assurances the Times suggests, I would be outraged.

[Uzybone]

6. Why do you still suggest this was possible

when its clearly a lie by the Moonie Times and/or Bond?

[camera obscura]

7. As someone who posted the original WT article, I'm glad they're rebuffing the report.

It's a good sign.

[K8-EEE]

8. Wash Times = Moonie Times

When does eternal father ever break any important (true) stories?

[Jennicut]

9. Liars. But we expect that from the Rethugs don't we?

[AtomicKitten]

10. Russ Feingold reiterated that point on Rachel's show tonight.

I was really relieved to hear that.