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Senate Panel Faces New Obstacle to Release of Torture Report Senate Panel Faces New Obstacle to Release of Torture Report
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — The Senate Intelligence Committee on Friday faced a new obstacle in its efforts to make public its report on the torture of prisoners once held by the Central Intelligence Agency after last-minute warnings from the Obama administration that the report’s release could ignite new unrest in the Middle East and put American hostages at risk.WASHINGTON — The Senate Intelligence Committee on Friday faced a new obstacle in its efforts to make public its report on the torture of prisoners once held by the Central Intelligence Agency after last-minute warnings from the Obama administration that the report’s release could ignite new unrest in the Middle East and put American hostages at risk.
The warnings were delivered on Friday during a phone call between Secretary of State John Kerry and Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the committee. According to congressional officials, Mr. Kerry warned that allies were concerned that the report could incite violence in the Middle East.The warnings were delivered on Friday during a phone call between Secretary of State John Kerry and Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the committee. According to congressional officials, Mr. Kerry warned that allies were concerned that the report could incite violence in the Middle East.
Ms. Feinstein had planned to make the report public next week, but it is uncertain whether the call from Mr. Kerry would affect that timetable.Ms. Feinstein had planned to make the report public next week, but it is uncertain whether the call from Mr. Kerry would affect that timetable.
The exchange between Mr. Kerry and Ms. Feinstein is just the latest turn in the protracted dispute over the Intelligence Committee’s investigation into the detention and interrogation of C.I.A. prisoners during the Bush administration — an investigation that set out to examine the efficacy of the brutal interrogation methods. The exchange between Mr. Kerry and Ms. Feinstein is just the latest turn in the protracted dispute over the Intelligence Committee’s investigation into the detention and interrogation of C.I.A. prisoners during the Bush administration, an investigation that set out to examine the efficacy of the brutal interrogation methods.
The committee voted this year to release the 6,000-page report’s executive summary, but the release has been held up for months because of tense negotiations between the committee and the Obama administration over how much of the report would be declassified. It is unclear why Mr. Kerry waited until just before the report was scheduled to be released to sound alarms — since there has long been concern within the American intelligence agencies about the potential global impact of the report’s findings. The committee voted this year to release the 6,000-page report’s executive summary, but the release has been held up for months because of tense negotiations between the committee and the Obama administration over how much of the report would be declassified. It is unclear why Mr. Kerry waited until just before the report was scheduled to be released to sound alarms, since there has long been concern within the American intelligence agencies about the potential global impact of the report’s findings.
Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said Mr. Kerry “called his former colleague to discuss the broader implications of the timing of the report’s release because a lot is going on in the world, and he wanted to make sure that foreign policy implications were being appropriately factored into timing.” She added, referring to the Islamic State extremist group, “These include our ongoing efforts against ISIL and the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.”Jen Psaki, a State Department spokeswoman, said Mr. Kerry “called his former colleague to discuss the broader implications of the timing of the report’s release because a lot is going on in the world, and he wanted to make sure that foreign policy implications were being appropriately factored into timing.” She added, referring to the Islamic State extremist group, “These include our ongoing efforts against ISIL and the safety of Americans being held hostage around the world.”
The phone call between Mr. Kerry and Ms. Feinstein was first reported by Bloomberg View.The phone call between Mr. Kerry and Ms. Feinstein was first reported by Bloomberg View.
Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, said the administration backed making the report public next week. “The president has long advocated the declassified release of this report, so we certainly welcome the news from the committee that they’re planning to do so next week,” Mr. Earnest said.Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, said the administration backed making the report public next week. “The president has long advocated the declassified release of this report, so we certainly welcome the news from the committee that they’re planning to do so next week,” Mr. Earnest said.
Some Democratic members of the Intelligence Committee said they saw no reason to delay the release of the report and noted that there has been a stream of objections to making it public.Some Democratic members of the Intelligence Committee said they saw no reason to delay the release of the report and noted that there has been a stream of objections to making it public.
“It is hardly surprising that there is an 11th-hour objection to releasing this vital report because there have been objections at every hour for quite some time,” said Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon. “My own view is that many Americans will be deeply angered when they read this report about misdeeds and mistakes and out-and-out falsehoods. It is critically important that this report not be pushed under the rug, buried before the American people have a chance to see it.”“It is hardly surprising that there is an 11th-hour objection to releasing this vital report because there have been objections at every hour for quite some time,” said Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon. “My own view is that many Americans will be deeply angered when they read this report about misdeeds and mistakes and out-and-out falsehoods. It is critically important that this report not be pushed under the rug, buried before the American people have a chance to see it.”
With control of the Senate about to change hands, there has been rising concern among Democrats that the report’s Republican opponents could move to shelve it once they gain control of the Intelligence Committee in January. This has given new urgency to the push by Ms. Feinstein and other Democrats to finalize negotiations with the Obama administration and make the report public. With control of the Senate about to change hands, there has been rising concern among Democrats that the report’s Republican opponents could move to shelve it once they gain control of the Intelligence Committee in January. This has given new urgency to the push by Ms. Feinstein and other Democrats to finish negotiations with the Obama administration and make the report public.
If there are any new delays, Mr. Wyden noted there is an obscure Senate procedure that could be used to declassify the report. Senator Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat who sits on the panel, has suggested that he, too, would consider taking action on the Senate floor to assure that the report is made public. If there are any new delays, Mr. Wyden noted there is an obscure Senate procedure that could be used to declassify the report. Senator Mark Udall, a Colorado Democrat who sits on the panel, has suggested that he, too, would consider taking action on the Senate floor to ensure that the report is made public.
On Friday, his office issued a statement saying that, “Senator Udall remains committed to getting the truth out about the C.I.A.’s misguided, brutal and ineffective detention and interrogation program.”On Friday, his office issued a statement saying that, “Senator Udall remains committed to getting the truth out about the C.I.A.’s misguided, brutal and ineffective detention and interrogation program.”
A State Department spokeswoman said Friday that the department has directed all American diplomatic facilities overseas to examine security arrangements in advance of report’s release “to ensure that our personnel, our facilities, and our interests are prepared for the range of reactions that might occur.” A spokeswoman for the State Department said Friday that it has directed all American diplomatic facilities overseas to examine security arrangements in advance of the report’s release “to ensure that our personnel, our facilities, and our interests are prepared for the range of reactions that might occur.”