Administration Wanted Loyalist As Justice Dept. Legal Adviser

Washington Post by Carrie Johnson | Jul. 17, 2008 (News Report)

Top Officials Sought to Defend Interrogation Practices

Then-Attorney General John D. Ashcroft offered the White House a list of five candidates to lead the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel in early 2003, but top administration officials summarily rejected them in favor of installing a loyalist who would provide the legal footing needed to continue coercive interrogation techniques and broadly interpret executive power, according to two former administration officials. Full Story »

Posted by Beth Wellington

See All Reviews »

View

3.7

by David Dresser - Oct. 1, 2008

This is another display of the arrogance and single-minded procedure used by the administration. Ashcroft had no taint of liberal thought about him but he was an honest and honorable man. He may have been guided by an excessive and narrow religious perspective, but he seems to have had great respect for law. The nation has not been well served by ignoring this particular piece of advice from this Attorney General.