Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy came out for the first time publicly for a “truth commission” to investigate Bush-era constitutional abuses. He joins House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) in calling for a formal reckoning. You can watch the Vermont Democrats’ remarks at Georgetown University here on CSPAN.
Leahy backed further investigation of the politicized firings of U.S. Attorneys, warrantless wiretapping, torture, treatment of detainees, and even pre-war intelligence procedures leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He said the commission should have subpoena power, but he didn’t endorse criminal prosecution of any officials involved. “We need to be able to read the page before we turn the page,” Leahy said.
