Congressman Jerrold Nadler reacts to possible inquiry into CIA interrogation tactics

On Tuesday, President Obama made it clear that he is leaving open the possibility of investigating the members of the Bush administration who authorized the use of so-called enhanced interrogation techniques against terror suspects. The use of waterboarding, hanging from the ceiling, and other tactics could constitute illegal torture and President Obama suggested creating a commission to investigate these potential abuses. The President's remarks on Tuesday caused both controversy and confusion in light of earlier statements by both Mr. Obama and his staff that suggested he was interested in turning the page on the past abuses and moving forward. To help us understand what Congress is thinking about this issue, The Takeaway talks to the man in charge, New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who is Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

"Even the people who actually did torture in the CIA, if they reasonably relied on instructions or legal guidance from the Justice Department, they should not be prosecuted."
—Congressman Jerrold Nadler on investigating interrogators

Did you miss the President's remarks to the CIA? Here they are:

Guests:

Jerrold Nadler

Hosted by:

Lynn Sherr

Comments [2]

Libby Hieber

The SERE program sounds an awful lot like The Bourne Identity books, from what they did to Jason Bourne to make him the effective agent that he was down to the timing - after Korea. Listening to this story has been a bit surreal since I just finished reading the Bourne books.

Apr. 22 2009 11:27 AM

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Hugh Sansom

Both international and federal law *mandates* investigation and, if necessary, prosecution of American war criminals.

Apr. 22 2009 09:15 AM

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