Posted on 01/30/2010 11:26:56 AM PST by ricks_place
For weeks, the right has heckled Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. for his plans to try the alleged 9/11 conspirators in New York City and his handling of the Christmas bombing plot suspect. Now the left is going to be upset: an upcoming Justice Department report from its ethics-watchdog unit, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), clears the Bush administration lawyers who authored the “torture” memos of professional-misconduct allegations.
While the probe is sharply critical of the legal reasoning used to justify waterboarding and other “enhanced” interrogation techniques, NEWSWEEK has learned that a senior Justice official who did the final review of the report softened an earlier OPR finding. Previously, the report concluded that two key authors—Jay Bybee, now a federal appellate court judge, and John Yoo, now a law professor—violated their professional obligations as lawyers when they crafted a crucial 2002 memo approving the use of harsh tactics, say two Justice sources who asked for anonymity discussing an internal matter. But the reviewer, career veteran David Margolis, downgraded that assessment to say they showed “poor judgment,” say the sources. (Under department rules, poor judgment does not constitute professional misconduct.) The shift is significant: the original finding would have triggered a referral to state bar associations for potential disciplinary action—which, in Bybee’s case, could have led to an impeachment inquiry.
The report, which is still going through declassification, will provide many new details about how waterboarding was adopted and the role that top White House officials played in the process, say two sources who have read the report but asked for anonymity to describe a sensitive document...
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.newsweek.com ...
Great news!
Simply amazing how the commie left MSM/DNC/Hollywood/Academia destroyed us, GWB, and our missions in two war theaters.
All on now proven lies.
I want revenge.
“poor judgement” is in the eye of the beholder. I think Yoo’s judgement was exceptional and I applaud all involved for preventing further deaths at the hands of jihadist scum. Especially President Bush and Vice President Cheney.
The Kos-Kiddies & Code PINKOS are going to go NUTZ!
two Justice sources who asked for anonymity discussing an internal matter.
two sources who have read the report but asked for anonymity to describe a sensitive document...
One reader who has asked for anonymity to protect
his God given rights.
If it’s good enough for the press it’s good enough for us.
Obama has not been cleared yet.
I’d imagine that 0lberwoman will be just a little animated over this come Monday. The admin is gonna have to throw the radical left another bone to chew on in the next 24-48 hours to pacify them once again.
Lol....A mass wailing and gnashing of teeth will surely come from the left....
NewsWEAK. ROFL, putzes.
We were wrong by the Justice Department. We knew we were wrong all along, but that did not keep us from engaging in reckless demagoguery and irresponsible character assassination for years in our vain efforts to "get Bush"
Courting Disaster proves:
How the CIA program thwarted specific deadly attacks against the U.S.
Why "enhanced interrogation" was not torture by any reasonable legal or moral standard. How the information gained by "enhanced interrogation" could not have been acquired any other way. How President Obama's actions since taking office have left America much more vulnerable to attack
In chilling detail, Thiessen reveals how close the terrorists came to striking again, how intelligence gained from "enhanced interrogation" repeatedly stymied their plots, and how President Obama's dismantling of this CIA program is inviting disaster for America.
Dems never play with a full deck anyway.
The Left has constantly badgered U.S. administrations concerning the conduct of wars, and for no legitimate reasons. The Left deserves no sympathy or respect as a result of its conduct.
Why did this take so long? Should have taken about 2 seconds.
Have you seen Thiessen destroy Amanpour?
“Have you seen Thiessen destroy Amanpour?”
Yes, I have. It’s good that we have at least a few people who don’t let themselves get intimidated by the MSM.
Michell Obama lost her license.
Just imagine what she did.
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