March 1, 2005
Attorney General
Regarding Torture
Attorney General
Regarding Torture
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Mr. Gonzales:
I urge you to appoint an outside special counsel to investigate any criminal conduct by military and civilians in ordering, or paving the way for, torture or abuse of prisoners and to release all torture related documents.
As a former Marine and Gulf War veteran, I believe it is time for you to honor your oath of office and protect the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic. Anyone willing to use torture as a method of extracting information, for punishment or sadistic enjoyment has diminished the security and stature of the United States. Such a person is a domestic enemy of the Constitution.
An outside special counsel is the only way to ensure that all civilians or military personnel 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. A small number of enlisted men and women in the military and a few low-ranking military officers should not be the only persons held responsible for the torture and abuse that repulsed all Americans. The public — and Congress — deserve to know the full extent to which torture has been implemented for prisoners.
The Administration should also commit to the prompt release of all other 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.
Once again, I urge you to appoint an outside special counsel to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute civilians who violated, or conspired to violate, the Anti-Torture Act, the War Crimes Act or other laws prohibiting the torture or abuse of prisoners and to release the key torture-related documents.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter.
Sincerely,
James Landrith