Legal Commentary

Will Bush Issue Torture Pardons?

By Big Tent Democrat

One conservative blogger is asking President Bush to issue torture pardons:

My powder is still dry on seeking to deny Holder the AG job, but is no longer dry on deeming preemptive pardons acceptable on the narrow issue of those involved in waterboarding.

Bush has two days to left do it. The wording of such a pardon would be extremely interesting. Presumably, the specific people being pardoned would be named. Also presumably, Bush would expressly pardon Cheney, Rumsfeld, Tenet, Hayden, Brennan, Kappes, specific field agents, etc. Finally, the pardons would state the actions for which pardons were issued. On one level, pardons would be good - we would certainly find out more about what was done. Of course, justice may be thwarted. Personally, I am more interested in stopping the abuses now. See also Jeralyn on Cheney's dismissal of the need for preemptive pardons.

Speaking for me only

Full post as published by TalkLeft on January 18, 2009 (boomark / email).