Politics

Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee to Consider Subpoena for Douglas Feith

By Jesse Lee

From Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler:

Constitution Subcommittee to Consider Subpoena for Douglas Feith
Lawmakers Will Also Consider ?National Security Letters Reform Act?

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties today announced that the Subcommittee will consider a resolution ?authorizing the Chairman to issue a subpoena to compel the testimony of Douglas Feith? and will also consider H.R. 3189, the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007, on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 2:00 P.M.

Douglas Feith, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, was scheduled to appear before the Subcommittee last Wednesday at a hearing on the role that Bush Administration lawyers played in creating, approving and implementing abusive interrogation policies that resulted in the widespread abuse of detainees in U.S. custody and control. Despite agreeing to testify voluntarily, on the morning of the hearing, Mr. Feith, through his attorney, informed the Chair that he was unwilling to appear.

H.R. 3189, the National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007, was introduced by Rep. Nadler, along with Reps. Jeff Flake (AZ-06), William Delahunt (MA-10) and Ron Paul (TX-14). This bipartisan bill would provide crucial checks against the unprecedented and dangerous National Security Letter authority that was vastly expanded by the Patriot Act. Specifically, the bill would give a NSL recipient the right to challenge the letter and its nondisclosure requirement, and would place a time limit on the NSL gag order and allow for court approved extensions.

What: House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties meeting to consider a ?Resolution authorizing the Chairman to issue a subpoena to compel the testimony of Douglas Feith,? and markup of H.R. 3189, the ?National Security Letters Reform Act of 2007?

When: Tuesday, June 24, 2008? 2:00 P.M.

Where: Room 2141, Rayburn House Office Building

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 23, 2008 (boomark / email).