Lucas,
For those who thought Trump’s nominees could not be any worse, Trump’s
latest pick represents a disturbing new low. Trump has nominated Bush-era
torture policy architect Steven Bradbury as general counsel for the Department
of Transportation.
While serving as the lead attorney for George W. Bush’s Department
of Justice, Bradbury wrote three secret opinions on the CIA’s use
of "enhanced interrogation techniques" – also known as
the “torture memos.” Trump may want to hire lawyers who are willing defend limitless powers
for the executive branch, but Bradbury’s justification of torture
shows exactly why such power is so dangerous.
Tell the Senate: Block and resist Trump’s nomination of torture policy
architect Steven Bradbury.
During his time in the Bush administration, Steven Bradbury gave the legal
thumbs-up to a harrowing list of torture methods –
waterboarding, nudity, striking prisoners, exposure to extreme temperatures,
dousing with cold water, sleep deprivation for more than seven days, cramped
conditions and using these tactics in combination. While the military has a longstanding prohibition on torture, Bradbury
concluded its policies didn’t apply to the CIA. His decisions were
later overturned, and the Department of Justice’s ethics office
would later issue a report citing "serious concerns about some of
his analysis.”
In fact, Bradbury's 2008 nomination to serve as the head of the Office
of Legal Counsel was blocked by senators because of concerns with his
role in torture and surveillance and whether he could be sufficiently
independent of the White House. The Senate needs to use their confirmation
power again to make sure torture promoter Steven Bradbury is never in
a position of government power again.
Tell the Senate: Block and resist Trump’s nomination of torture policy
architect Steven Bradbury.
The opposition to Bradbury’s nomination is growing. During a Senate
committee interview of Bradbury, a number of senators voiced their opposition
to a candidate willing to “rubber-stamp” the abuse of power,
and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a veteran, placed a formal hold on his confirmation.
Veterans and peace activists were arrested protesting Bradbury at the hearing.
To be confirmed, Bradbury needs the approval of both the Senate Commerce
Committee and the full Senate. To stop that from happening we need more
senators to join Sen. Duckworth in doing everything they can to block
and resist his confirmation.
Tell the Senate: Block and resist Trump’s nomination of torture policy
architect Steven Bradbury.
Keep fighting,
Brandy Doyle, CREDO