The Senate’s surprisingly close vote of 60 to 36 to confirm Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General underscores the fact that the torture debate is not over, said Human Rights First. It also demands that the Senate establish an independent, bi-partisan commission to investigate the prisoner abuse and torture at Abu Ghraib and other U.S. detention facilities.
“Mr. Gonzales’ confirmation should not be interpreted as a confirmation of the Bush administration’s interrogation policy,” said Michael Posner, the Executive Director of Human Rights First (formerly the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights). “In the absence of an independent investigation into the torture scandal, the Gonzales hearings became a venue for Senators to express their deep concerns about interrogation and detention. These concerns are growing. We urge all Senators now to come together to establish an independent commission to examine U.S. policy on interrogation and detention and recommend corrective actions. In addition, as an immediate step, the Administration should stop the practice of holding ‘ghost detainees’ and allow International Red Cross monitors immediate access to all U.S.-held prisoners.”
For more information on Alberto Gonzales’ nomination to be Attorney General:
