The Washington Post is reporting that civil rights groups are opposing an amendment by Sen. Kelly Ayotte that they say would legalize torture.
“In a letter to lawmakers Tuesday, more than 30 groups, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that Ayotte’s amendment to a defense bill would legalize torture and other cruelties by rolling back restrictions that Congress overwhelmingly approved in 2005,” the newspaper reported in a story by the Associated Press.
In an e-mailed statement to NHPR Ayotte responded: “This amendment specifically prohibits torture, requiring compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Terrorists shouldn’t be able to view all of our interrogation practices online, and the measure I introduced fixes that glaring flaw. Under my amendment, our high-value detainee interrogation group would be able to gather intelligence from the worst terrorists in a manner that’s consistent with American laws and values.”
Here is a link to the article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/civil-rights-groups-urge-senators-to-block-effort-to-expand-interrogation/2011/11/22/gIQAxQ9MlN_story.html
Here is a link to the letter: http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/11_2011_letter_ndaa_ayotte_amend_1068_0.pdf