December 19, 2008

The Honorable John Kerry
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
304 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Kerry:

I would like to extend my warm congratulations on your designation as the incoming Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I have enjoyed working with you on the Committee for the last decade and look forward to a challenging year ahead as we work with President-elect Obama to set a new course for our nation.

I write today to raise an issue of the utmost significance -- the Administration’s use of torture against detainees held in U.S. custody. Despite widespread condemnation from Members of Congress, policy experts, and human rights advocates, Vice President Richard Cheney stated in a recent interview with ABC News that the torture policies used against detainees were appropriate and admitted that he played a role in their authorization. In fact, when asked if any of the tactics -- including waterboarding -- went too far, he responded with a curt “I don’t.”

I find Vice President Cheney’s response deplorable, particularly in light of a recent report released by the Senate Armed Services Committee following an eighteen-month investigation. In sum, the bipartisan report found that “senior officials in the United States government solicited information on how to use aggressive techniques, redefined the law to create the appearance of their legality, and authorized their use against detainees.” The report, led by Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, concluded that “those efforts damaged our ability to collect accurate intelligence that could save lives, strengthened the hand of our enemies, and compromised our moral authority.” I fully support Chairman Levin’s proposal for an outside Commission with subpoena power to investigate this matter further.

In light of this report and Vice President Cheney’s admission that torture was approved at the highest levels, I ask that you hold a hearing on the use of torture and its impact on U.S. moral standing in the world. The last eight years have been a dark chapter for U.S. global leadership and have left a deep stain on our moral authority. Now is the time to send a clear and nequivocal sign that we completely reject torture, that we respect the rule of law, and that America will once again lead on human rights through the power of our example.

Thank you for your consideration of this request..

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

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