January 26, 2005
Letter to Senators Warner and Allen
Letter to Senators Warner and Allen
PO Box 8208
Alexandria, VA 22306-8208
January 26, 2005
The Honorable John William Warner
United States Senate
225 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4601
The Honorable George F. Allen
United States Senate
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4604
Dear Senators Warner and Allen:
As your constituent, I urge you to oppose voting on the nomination of an architect of the government’s detention, interrogation and torture policies, Alberto Gonzales, for Attorney General until you have all key torture-related documents, and until Gonzales commits to appoint an outside special counsel to fully investigate and, if warranted, prosecute civilians who violated or conspired to violate the nation’s laws against torture and abuse. Unless these two conditions are met, the Senate will not have the information or commitment to accountability necessary to meaningfully meet its constitutional duty of “advise and consent” on nominations.
The Bush Administration should immediately release all key torture-related documents. The ACLU has issued a Top Ten List of torture-related documents needed to shed light on the interrogation policies that authorized or allowed abuse or torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere. The Senate cannot meaningfully consider the Gonzales nomination without, at minimum, reviewing these documents. In addition, the Administration must commit to the prompt release of all other torture-related documents.
Gonzales must agree to appoint an outside special counsel. An outside special counsel is the only way to ensure that all civilians who violated, or conspired to violate, the Anti-Torture Act, and other federal laws against torture and abuse will be fully investigated and held responsible for their criminal acts. The Senate should not let Gonzales lead an investigation of matters in which he and numerous other high-level officials presumably would be questioned.
It is time for the Senate to demand accountability and responsibility. A small number of enlisted men and women in the military and a few low-ranking military officers should not be the only individuals held responsible for the torture and abuse that repulsed all Americans. As a former Marine, I am sick and tired of watching the men and the women on the lower end of the rank structure reap all the punishment while senior officers and civilian oversight receive the wink-wink treatment. The Senate and the American public must demand that the government come clean on the actions of high-level officials, and that all civilians who engaged in misconduct be held responsible.
Once again, I urge you to refuse to vote on the nomination of Gonzales until the Administration releases the key torture-related documents — and until Gonzales himself commits to the appointment of an outside special counsel to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute civilians who violated, or conspired to violate, the Anti-Torture Act or other laws prohibiting the torture or abuse of prisoners.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely,
James Landrith