Corps lawyer: Interrogation testimony blocked

[unhappycamper]

Corps lawyer: Interrogation testimony blocked
By Laurie Kellman - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Nov 9, 2007 5:36:25 EST

WASHINGTON — A Marine Corps lawyer told a House subcommittee Thursday the Pentagon blocked him from testifying that harsh interrogation methods tripped up his prosecution of a suspected terrorist.

The accusation came as the debate over detainee treatment continued to affect Michael Mukasey’s nomination as attorney general, with lawmakers struggling to come to a decision on when a confirmation vote would be scheduled.

“The Department of Defense has decided I cannot testify,” Marine Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch wrote to House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich. “Please be advised that I am willing to testify before the subcommittee in the event I am allowed to do so.”

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Couch has worked on several detainee cases that are still pending.

“In order to safeguard against potentially compromising a case that is still pending it is department practice not to have prosecutors testify in an open hearing,” Whitman said.

The chair intended for Couch stayed empty during proceedings by the House subcommittee on the Constitution into the effectiveness of so-called waterboarding and other severe interrogation techniques in eliciting information that might help stop would-be terrorist attacks.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_torture_071108/