lily
12-15-2007, 12:18 AM
Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401269.html?hpid=topnews)
Mukasey Rejects Call for CIA Tape Details
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 14, 2007; 2:27 PM
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey today sharply rebuffed congressional
demands for details about the Justice Department's inquiry into the
destruction of CIA interrogation tapes, saying that providing such
information would make it appear that the department was "subject to
political influence."
In letters to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee and others,
Mukasey also reiterated his opposition to appointing a special prosecutor to
the tapes investigation, saying he was "aware of no facts at present" that
would require such a step.
"At my confirmation hearing, I testified that I would act independently,
resist political pressure and ensure that politics plays no role in cases
brought by the Department of Justice," Mukasey wrote. "Consistent with that
testimony, the facts will be followed wherever they lead in this inquiry,
and the relevant law applied."
One letter was sent to Sens. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter
(R-Pa.), the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Similar
correspondence was sent to Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and
to House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and other House
Democrats.
The three letters represent an attempt by Mukasey to push back against
growing pressure from lawmakers, primarily Democrats, who have showered the
Justice Department with demands for investigations or information on topics
ranging from the baseball steroids scandal to allegations of rape by a
former military contractor employee.
The letters also are an assertive move by the new attorney general, who was
confirmed last month with the lowest level of Senate support in the past
half century because of his refusal to say whether a form of simulated
drowning known as waterboarding amounts to torture under U.S. law.
Mukasey Rejects Call for CIA Tape Details
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 14, 2007; 2:27 PM
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey today sharply rebuffed congressional
demands for details about the Justice Department's inquiry into the
destruction of CIA interrogation tapes, saying that providing such
information would make it appear that the department was "subject to
political influence."
In letters to the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee and others,
Mukasey also reiterated his opposition to appointing a special prosecutor to
the tapes investigation, saying he was "aware of no facts at present" that
would require such a step.
"At my confirmation hearing, I testified that I would act independently,
resist political pressure and ensure that politics plays no role in cases
brought by the Department of Justice," Mukasey wrote. "Consistent with that
testimony, the facts will be followed wherever they lead in this inquiry,
and the relevant law applied."
One letter was sent to Sens. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) and Arlen Specter
(R-Pa.), the leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Similar
correspondence was sent to Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and
to House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) and other House
Democrats.
The three letters represent an attempt by Mukasey to push back against
growing pressure from lawmakers, primarily Democrats, who have showered the
Justice Department with demands for investigations or information on topics
ranging from the baseball steroids scandal to allegations of rape by a
former military contractor employee.
The letters also are an assertive move by the new attorney general, who was
confirmed last month with the lowest level of Senate support in the past
half century because of his refusal to say whether a form of simulated
drowning known as waterboarding amounts to torture under U.S. law.