Democratic Party Demands Congress Investigate Judge Bybee

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2009

SACRAMENTO – Calling it a victory for truth and justice, the California Democratic Party today passed a resolution urging Congress to investigate Judge Jay Bybee for his role in President Bush’s illegal torturing of detainees. Earlier this week, the Courage Campaign launched a petition — signed by over 9,000 people — urging California Democrats to support an investigation and impeachment of Bybee. A similar petition by blogger David Dayen gathered 4,834 signatures.

As an official with the Bush-era Justice Department, Bybee authored a memo in August 2002 authorizing the use of waterboarding, “cramped confinement,” “walling” — where a detainee’s head is repeatedly pushed against a wall — and even putting insects into a confined space with a detainee.

The memos, released last week by President Obama, describe in horrifying detail the shocking and inhuman tactics used to torture the detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

“Judge Bybee is now in a position to make rulings regarding the rights and freedoms of Californians. That isn’t right, that isn’t justice,” said Rick Jacobs, founder and chair of the 700,000 member Courage Campaign. “I am pleased the California Democrat Party recognized the need for an investigation into Bybee’s actions.”

The movement to investigate and impeach Jay Bybee has grown rapidly. Since the Bush-era memos were released, a resolution calling for impeachment was endorsed by the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, Progressive Democrats of America, the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, and a growing list of California Democratic Party delegates.

And last week, the Los Angeles County Democratic Party approved a resolution written by progressive Democrats John Heaner, Agi Kessler and Richard Mathews to demand that the House of Representatives begin impeachment proceedings against Bybee.

The text of the resolution passed by the California Democratic Party is below:

RESOLUTION TO CALL FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF JUDGE JAY BYBEE AND OTHERS FOR THEIR ROLE IN ALLOWING TORTURE AS PART OF “ENHANCED INTERROGATION”

Whereas, former Assistant Attorney General, and current Federal Judge of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Jay Bybee signed the “Bybee Memo,” or “Torture Memo” of August 1, 2002, which advised the C.I.A. that “cruel, inhuman or degrading” treatment was at times allowable under U.S. law, and authored, co-authored and signed other memos on “extraordinary rendition” and “enhanced interrogation,” more of which are being currently revealed to the American public as the new Administration brings them to light; and

Whereas the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment, the supreme law of the land under Article VI of our Constitution, requires the prosecution of those who authorize torture, and it has been established that waterboarding is torture; and

Whereas, on January 15, 2009 before leaving office, President George W. Bush, in an effort to cover his culpability, and the culpability of others, had his Office of Legal Counsel in the Department of Justice issue a memo stating that certain opinions issued in 2001-2003 with respect to “the allocation of authorities between President and Congress in matters of war and national security do not reflect the current view of this Office;”

Therefore be it resolved that the California Democratic Party supports resolution of inquiry and vigorous investigation of these and related actions by the Congress of the United States, including the full use of Congressional subpoena power authority and all appropriate remedies, to disclose completely the possible criminal actions of Judge Jay Bybee and others to the American people and to take necessary and available action with appropriate remedies and punishment allowed by law; and

Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution with its original authorization be sent to the Office of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and that copies of the signed resolution be sent to each Democratic member of the California delegation to the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
 

The Courage Campaign is an online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots activists to push for progressive change in California.

Rick Jacobs is the founder and chair of the Courage Campaign. He chaired Howard Dean’s presidential campaign in California. He is also the co-founder of Brave New Films and a featured contributor to Arianna Huffington’s Huffingtonpost.com. Rick has an extensive background as an international investor and senior executive.

Rick is available for interviews by calling his office, 323-969-0160, or at “rick@couragecampaign.org”.