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Feinstein, after release of CIA report, urges reforms to ban ‘abusive’ interrogations Feinstein, after release of CIA report, urges measures to ban ‘abusive’ interrogations
(about 1 hour later)
The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said she will seek to make “abusive” interrogation measures illegal and ban the CIA from holding prisoners under a series of reforms shaped by the findings of a report released last month on the agency’s treatment of detainees after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee said she will seek to make “abusive” interrogation measures illegal and ban the CIA from holding prisoners under a series of measures shaped by the findings of a report released last month on the agency’s treatment of detainees after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The recommendations were outlined in a letter Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) delivered to President Obama last week, urging him to adopt measures that she said would “make sure that the United States never again engages in actions that you have acknowledged were torture.” The recommendations were outlined in a letter Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) delivered to President Obama last week, urging him to adopt measures that she said would “make sure that the United States never again engages in actions that you have acknowledged were torture.”
The document provides the clearest indication to date of the legislative agenda that Feinstein intends to pursue after devoting much of her tenure as chairman of the committee to an exhaustive investigation of the CIA’s brutal treatment of terrorism suspects. The document provides the clearest indication to date of the legislative agenda Feinstein intends to pursue after devoting much of her tenure as chairman of the committee to an exhaustive investigation of the CIA’s treatment of terrorism suspects.
But Feinstein’s reform plans are likely to face significant obstacles, particularly as she is forced to relinquish her control of the intelligence panel after recent Republican election victories. But Feinstein’s plans are likely to face significant obstacles, particularly as she is forced to relinquish her control of the intelligence panel in the wake of recent Republican election victories.
In her letter, Feinstein said she plans to introduce legislation that would explicitly ban coercive interrogation measures, noting that some of the CIA’s tactics were deemed legal by the Department of Justice even after Congress moved to prohibit them with the Detainee Treatment Act in 2005. In her letter, Feinstein said she plans to introduce legislation that would explicitly ban coercive interrogation measures, noting that some of the CIA’s tactics were deemed legal by the Justice Department even after Congress moved to prohibit them with the Detainee Treatment Act in 2005.
Feinstein said she would also push Congress to “prohibit the authority of the CIA to hold detainees beyond a short-term, transitory basis,” essentially codifying the administration’s existing detainee policy. Feinstein said she will also push Congress to “prohibit the authority of the CIA to hold detainees beyond a short-term, transitory basis,” essentially codifying the administration’s existing detainee policy.
Other changes she outlined would require executive action from Obama at a time when his administration has seemed eager to move beyond the debate over a CIA program that he effectively ended when he took office in 2009.Other changes she outlined would require executive action from Obama at a time when his administration has seemed eager to move beyond the debate over a CIA program that he effectively ended when he took office in 2009.
Feinstein’s letter calls for expanding White House oversight of CIA covert action programs, prohibiting the agency from using contractors for core assignments, and requiring that all U.S. interrogations of terrorism suspects — currently carried out by FBI-led teams — be videotaped. Feinstein’s letter calls for expanding White House oversight of CIA covert action programs, prohibiting the agency from using contractors for core assignments and requiring that all U.S. interrogations of terrorism suspects — currently carried out by FBI-led teams — be videotaped.
The CIA’s destruction of videotapes of its early interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects became a focal point in the controversy surrounding its detention program, although a Justice Department probe ended without any prosecutions of agency personnel The CIA’s destruction of videotapes of its early interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects became a focal point in the controversy surrounding its detention program, although a Justice Department probe ended without any prosecutions of agency personnel.
Feinstein’s proposals are likely to be supported by her Democratic colleagues on the committee, although her letter was not signed by any other member of the panel. When Republicans take control of the Senate, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is expected to be named chairman.Feinstein’s proposals are likely to be supported by her Democratic colleagues on the committee, although her letter was not signed by any other member of the panel. When Republicans take control of the Senate, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) is expected to be named chairman.