2008-02-07 Mukasey says No, I Will Not Investigate Waterboarding

2008-02-07 Talking Points Memo \Michael Mukasey\stonewalling http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/mukasey_no_i_will_not_investig.php Mukasey: No, I Will Not Investigate Waterboarding &ldquo;The CIA waterboarded those detainees with the authorization of a Justice Department legal opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel. So the Justice Department "cannot possibly" investigate, [ Michael Mukasey ] said, U.S. employees for an act they committed on the basis of Justice Department advice.&rdquo;  His reasoning was a repeat of his answer to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) last week. The CIA waterboarded those detainees with the authorization of a Justice Department legal opinion from the Office of Legal Counsel. So the Justice Department "cannot possibly" investigate, he said, U.S. employees for an act they committed on the basis of Justice Department advice. Such an action, he explained, would send a message that interrogators could no longer safely rely on that advice going forward. If there's a conflict of interest preventing investigation, then why is the Justice Department in the business of giving out such advice in the first place?   