Rep. Nadler (D): Obama Violating Law By Not Investigating Bush

WASHINGTON - Even as the issue of torture appears likely to burst back onto the public agenda next week -- thanks to the much anticipated release of an internal CIA report -- one of the most progressive voices in Congress is arguing that the Obama White House has a legal obligation to investigate the Bush torture legacy.

New York Congressman Jerry Nadler, a senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, told the Huffington Post that he believed that President Obama would be breaking the law if he decided to oppose launching investigation into the authorization of torture.

New York Congressman Jerry Nadler, a senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, told the Huffington Post that he believed that President Obama would be breaking the law if he decided to oppose launching investigation into the authorization of torture.

"If they follow the law they have no choice," Nadler said in an interview this past weekend.

The logic, for Nadler, is straightforward. As a signatory of the convention against torture, and as a result of the anti-torture act of 1996, the United States government is obligated to investigate accusations of torture when they occur in its jurisdiction.

The alternative, Nadler said, "would be violating the law. They would be not upholding the law; they would be violating it."


http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/08/21-7


Rule of law means holding government accountable. Even if it "inconveniences" your political agenda - its not optional. It's required as part of your oath of office, Mr. President.

Yes they can still be impeached after they have left office. And they should be.

Don

It's only been 100 days 4 months 5 months 6 months 7 months!

He's fixed the economy, solved the health care crisis, and gotten us out of Iraq. Granted, he's a god, but he can't be expected to do everything according to your timetable.

on cases where they have some of the best evidence will expire soon.

Think this is the letter to Holder.... found the paragraph

http://www.aclu.org/safefree/torture/39060prs20090318.html

"There is Only a Little More than a Year Left in the Statute of Limitations Period for Certain Alleged Crimes of Torture:

The federal statutes of limitation are a potential problem in investigating and prosecuting certain torture crimes. Although the general federal statute of limitation for most federal crimes is five years, there is no limitations period when death resulted from the crime, and there is an eight-year period for violations of the federal Anti-Torture Act. The ICRC report and the Justice Department Inspector General report on the FBI's role in interrogations both provide substantial details on the torture and abuse of Abu Zubaydah in the spring and summer of 2002, prior to the issuance of the August 1, 2002 OLC opinions. The eight-year statute of limitation period for Anti-Torture Act charges related to crimes allegedly committed in spring 2002 will expire in spring 2010. As a result, a prosecutor has only a little more than a year from today to bring charges for some important and well-documented alleged torture or abuse incidents...."

Sincerely,

Anthony D. Romero

surely, without doubt, in toto, and (?).....the Obama people fear and loathe the repukes around junyer bush and them criminal thugs- who steered the good ship USA onto the rocks, intentionally, it appears (and which was so distracting no one noticed the $23 trillion the global economy LOST! nudge wink!)
The dems know this:
a) the entire clinton era was made embarassing to liberal dems, especially older folk, due to sheer ugliness of the attacks on the left; see 'blue dress'
b) george junyer wasn't really elected in 2k- the pigmedia played fast/loose with the truth, waited until USA went to bed assured Gore in charge, before....nudge wink, ahem, proclaiming the Youngster number 43 around 4am est!
c) if 911 just happened, like barbara bush's shit does, then what's stopping them genius ah-rabs from doing it again, and this time, via nukes, causing total economic collapse/panic?
(nothing is, but as the ah-rabs had nada to do with it anyhow, don't worry!)

Obama aint breaking any laws. There aint any laws....

Nadler called it correctly almost 9 years ago when he said he detected a whiff of fascism in the air following the successful efforts of the Brooks Brothers Riot to halt the Miami-Dade ballot recount.