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Obama administration will not prosecute CIA interrogators: Panetta

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Leon Panetta said Friday that the Obama administration will not prosecute CIA officials who used harsh interrogation techniques, reiterating testimony he gave Thursday. After a second day of confirmation hearings before the US Senate Intelligence Committee, Panetta told reporters that he would not prosecute Bush administration officials because they were following legal orders. Panetta also backtracked on testimony he gave Thursday, saying that that while the Obama administration would not engage in the same type of extraordinary rendition seen under the Bush administration, they would continue to send detainees abroad, but only on the condition that they be treated humanely. President Barack Obama nominated Panetta to lead the CIA last month. Panetta has served as a Congressman, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director, and White House Chief of Staff. Panetta will replace current CIA director Michael Hayden, who has agreed to stay on and cooperate fully until the transition is complete. Last month, Admiral Dennis Blair, nominated by Obama for Director of National Intelligence, stressed his respect for civil liberties and lawfulness in intelligence investigations during testimony before the Intelligence Committee.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 06, 2009 (boomark / email).