Former Attorney General John Ashcroft fumbled as he was point-blanked about the goings-on at Guantanamo Bay during his tenure at the White House, claiming he had “limited recollection” of the events he was there to testify about and claiming he “wasn’t an expert in this arena when I was in office.” Meanwhile, Walter Dellinger of O’Melveny & Myers in Washington, D.C., argued that “criminal prosecution” of a person making policy recommendations, within legal bounds, to the executive branch should be “ruled out in all but the most extreme … unusual circumstances.”

Watch the clips:

Clip 1: Ashcroft and Dellinger talk about interrogation methods and accountability (MSNBC):

Clip 2: Ashcroft is “somewhat on the hot seat,” according to Fox News:

 Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig
In this Article:
#attorney general#guantanamo bay#house judiciary committee#interrogation#john ashcroft#testimony#torture#video