New info filed against 12 torture lawyers
Anti-Torture Coalition Files Additional Information With Disciplinary Committees Against Twelve Lawyers Who Advocated Torture
On June 9, 2009, a broad coalition of organizations representing over one million members filed supplementary material with five state legal disciplinary committees in support of its complaints to disbar twelve Bush Administration lawyers who advocated the use of torture – John Yoo, David Addington, John Ashcroft, Douglas Feith, Alice Fisher, Alberto Gonzales, Michael Chertoff, Michael Mukasey, Michael Haynes, Stephen Bradbury, Jay Bybee, and Timothy Flanigan. This information includes:
- General David Petreaus’ May 29, 2009 statement that the United States “violated the Geneva Conventions” by using torture on captured detainees;
- General Ricardo Sanchez’s May 31, 2009 statement that the United States committed “war crimes” by torturing detainees;
- Department of Justice emails from Deputy AG James Comey stating that Alberto Gonzalez was “weak” by succumbing to White House political pressure to approve torture, and warning AG Gonzales that the approval would come back to haunt him and the DOJ;
- The American Bar Association resolution condemning torture and “any endorsement of such measures by government lawyers, officials and agents.”
- The May 20, 2009 National Public Radio report stating that Alberto Gonzales authorized torture as White House Counsel even before the DOJ issued the torture memos.
These supplemental filings are posted on the coalition website, www.disbartorturelawyers.com along with the original complaints filed on May 18, 2009.
Coalition spokesman, attorney Kevin Zeese, who directs VotersForPeace.us said, “The actions of Alberto Gonzalez and the other lawyers who facilitated torture were critical to the program proceeding. There was dissention in the DOD, CIA and DOJ, which was suppressed for political purposes, over the use of torture. Without the involvement and approval of government lawyers, the torture program, very likely, would never have developed. The torture memoranda drafted and used by these attorneys provided assurance to employees in these agencies who feared prosecution and accountability for their participation in the war crime of torture. Now it is time for these torture lawyers to be held accountable.”
The coalition expects to soon file complaints against additional government attorneys whose involvement in torture has been confirmed.The coalition urges other organizations to join this campaign by sending an email to disbartorturelawyers(at)velvetrevolution.us. Individuals can sign on at www.disbartorturelawyers.com.
Contact:
Kevin Zeese
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Originally posted: New info filed against 12 torture lawyers
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