Torture
The 桃子视频works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.
The Latest
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The CIA's Long and Dangerous History of Refusing to Answer Absurdly Obvious Questions
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Federal Court Argument on CIA鈥檚 Refusal to Confirm or Deny Records About Agency鈥檚 鈥淥perational Control鈥� Over Camp VII at Guant谩namo
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Connell v. CIA 鈥� FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Records About CIA 鈥淥perational Control鈥� Over a Detention Facility at Guant谩namo Bay
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桃子视频Statement on Biden鈥檚 Long-Delayed Transfer of Man Detained at Guant谩namo For Over 15 Years
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What's at Stake
During the Bush administration, many hundreds of people were tortured and abused by the CIA and Department of Defense, primarily in Afghanistan, Guant谩namo, and Iraq, but also in other countries after unlawful rendition. Our government鈥檚 embrace of torture shattered lives, shredded our nation鈥檚 reputation in the world, and compromised our national security.
But the stain of torture extends even further. Our nation has not held to account any of the officials who authorized the use of torture or oversaw its implementation. This failure to engage in a formal legal reckoning has contaminated our legal system.
In January 2009, shortly after entering office, President Barack Obama took important steps to dismantle the torture program. But his administration undermined that early promise by thwarting accountability for government officials who authorized the use of torture. Even though courts have an array of tools for dealing with sensitive cases, the government claimed in numerous cases that national security concerns bar victims 鈥� including U.S. citizens 鈥� from bringing damages claims for violations of the Constitution. Even though torture has been prohibited for centuries, the government argued that those responsible for torture should be immune from liability because it wasn鈥檛 鈥渃learly established鈥� that torturing prisoners is illegal. And even though it has long been public that the CIA had a torture program, the government invoked the 鈥渟tate secrets鈥� privilege to shut down lawsuits at the very outset. To this country鈥檚 national shame, courts largely accepted the government鈥檚 efforts to block accountability for torture.
Now, an 桃子视频lawsuit, Salim v. Mitchell, marks the first time that the government has not tried to close the courthouse doors to survivors of CIA torture.
The 桃子视频continues to push for accountability for torture to ensure such heinous crimes are never repeated. We are working to bring about the release of still-classified information about the torture program, to seek justice for victims, and to bring the torturers to account. We remain vigilant about any return to these inhumane and unconstitutional acts.
During the Bush administration, many hundreds of people were tortured and abused by the CIA and Department of Defense, primarily in Afghanistan, Guant谩namo, and Iraq, but also in other countries after unlawful rendition. Our government鈥檚 embrace of torture shattered lives, shredded our nation鈥檚 reputation in the world, and compromised our national security.
But the stain of torture extends even further. Our nation has not held to account any of the officials who authorized the use of torture or oversaw its implementation. This failure to engage in a formal legal reckoning has contaminated our legal system.
In January 2009, shortly after entering office, President Barack Obama took important steps to dismantle the torture program. But his administration undermined that early promise by thwarting accountability for government officials who authorized the use of torture. Even though courts have an array of tools for dealing with sensitive cases, the government claimed in numerous cases that national security concerns bar victims 鈥� including U.S. citizens 鈥� from bringing damages claims for violations of the Constitution. Even though torture has been prohibited for centuries, the government argued that those responsible for torture should be immune from liability because it wasn鈥檛 鈥渃learly established鈥� that torturing prisoners is illegal. And even though it has long been public that the CIA had a torture program, the government invoked the 鈥渟tate secrets鈥� privilege to shut down lawsuits at the very outset. To this country鈥檚 national shame, courts largely accepted the government鈥檚 efforts to block accountability for torture.
Now, an 桃子视频lawsuit, Salim v. Mitchell, marks the first time that the government has not tried to close the courthouse doors to survivors of CIA torture.
The 桃子视频continues to push for accountability for torture to ensure such heinous crimes are never repeated. We are working to bring about the release of still-classified information about the torture program, to seek justice for victims, and to bring the torturers to account. We remain vigilant about any return to these inhumane and unconstitutional acts.