Center for Constitutional Rights

Tell Senator Leahy: Prosecution of Administration Criminals is Necessary

Join us to call upon Sen. Patrick Leahy, who is holding a hearing on March 4 of the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss a “truth commission” to investigate the crimes of the Bush administration, to support prosecutions for those government officials who violated the law. Sign a letter to Sen. Leahy and the Judiciary Committee calling for them to support prosecutions, and to oppose any immunity for the architects of these torture programs.

Also join us to call upon Sen. Leahy and the Judiciary Committee to put the voices of victims and survivors at the forefront of any inquiry. Those who were directly victimized by these policies must be heard, not simply government officials or those who were responsible for the victimization.

Tell Sen. Leahy that any commission must not become a mechanism to forestall or prevent criminal prosecutions. Those responsible for crafting the programs that violated the law and the Constitution must be held fully accountable, and ask him to support not only an investigatory commission, but also criminal prosecutions for these officials.

May 18, 2013

Subject:

Dear Senator Leahy,

I am pleased to see that you share my concern about the serious violations of law and human rights that have taken place over the last eight years, including the authorization of torture by high-ranking officials of the Bush administration. However, as much as a full investigation is critical, it is also necessary that it be followed up with criminal prosecutions.

The fullest and most detailed investigation possible of torture and criminality by these officials is a necessity to reestablish the rule of law and the Constitution, and to secure justice for the victims and survivors of torture and war crimes, as well as to prevent future government officials from engaging in similar actions.

However, an investigatory committee alone is not enough. In order to ensure that those responsible for creating the program of torture and for running roughshod over the Constitution are held accountable, criminal prosecutions are necessary.

In crafting a Congressional investigation of these activities, please do not provide immunity for the architects of the torture program. No commission of inquiry should prevent prosecutions from going forward.

Furthermore, please put the voices of victims and survivors at the forefront of any inquiry. Those who were directly victimized by these policies must be heard, not simply government officials or those who were responsible for the victimization.

This commission must not become a mechanism to forestall or prevent criminal prosecutions. Those responsible for crafting the programs that violated the law and the Constitution must be held fully accountable. Please support not only an investigatory commission, but also criminal prosecutions for these officials.

Sincerely,

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