Congress moving to block release of torture photos: ACLU

[kpete]

Source: Raw Story

A little-noticed provision in a homeland security funding bill could end efforts to make public photos of prisoners abused in US custody abroad, the American Civil Liberties Union stated on Wednesday.

Members of the House and Senate have added a provision proposed by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to the funding bill that would make such photos exempt from the Freedom of Information Act, meaning that, if the law is upheld, the Pentagon could continue to suppress the photos, the ACLU said.

The measure would strike at the heart of the civil liberties group's efforts to make some two thousand photos of alleged abuse public. The ACLU filed a Freedom of Information request for the photos with the Department of Defense in 2003; they have been in court fighting for the photos' release ever since.

In 2005, a US District Court judge in New York ordered the photos released, but the Bush administration appealed the ruling. In 2008, an appeals court upheld the ruling and again ordered the photos to be released.

Read more: http://rawstory.com/2009/10/congress-block-torture-photos-aclu/

[ro1942]

1. We don't have a representative gov.

If it wasn't for ACLU it would really be dark

[Arctic Dave]

2. Lieberman, should have known that shitbag would be involved.

[Rex]

3. Good 'ole Joe, making sure Americans don't see what their

taxpayer dollars are up to in prisons in foreign lands. Joe loves Repuke fartknockers. Why is that?

[bl968]

4. IANAL "Ipso facto"

I would suggest Congress look up the meaning of this word. The actions in question violated US laws and International Treaties, and by attempting to block the disclosure of the evidence of the crime and its prosecution, those voting in favor are guilty of a criminal conspiracy, and being an accessory after the fact. Does the RICO law apply to our elected officials?

A criminal conspiracy exists when two or more people agree to commit almost any unlawful act, then take some action toward its completion. The action taken need not itself be a crime, but it must indicate that those involved in the conspiracy knew of the plan and intended to break the law. One person may be charged with and convicted of both conspiracy and the underlying crime based on the same circumstances.

ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT - Whoever, knowing that an offense has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact; one who knowing a felony to have been committed by another, receives, relieves, comforts, or assists the felon in order to hinder the felon's apprehension, trial, or punishment. U.S.C. 18

[thecrow]

5. Welcome to DU!

Very insightful post.... you cut straight to the chase.

[No Elephants]

6. Please email your Senators and Rep about that. And welcome.

:toast:

[classysassy]

7. The boys and gals in the back room (congress)

have always been for hire.Their motto,"screw the public,show me the money".

[harry_pothead]

8. Joe Lieberman is a neocon fuck.