US reopening review of torture charges (Canadian engineer, Arar)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Bush administration said Thursday that it is re-examining the conclusions of an investigation that found the government acted appropriately in the case of a Canadian engineer seized by U.S. officials and sent to Syria and allegedly tortured.

The chief of internal investigations at the Department of Homeland Security, Richard Skinner, said at a congressional hearing that his office could not rule out that the United States wanted to send Maher Arar to Syria because it believed he would be tortured there. He said that the Justice Department had been informed of that possibility and is currently investigating.

Skinner said that his office has new information that contradicts an earlier conclusion of its own investigation on the Arar case.

Skinner released two versions of the report on its investigations, one of them classified, to lawmakers ahead of a hearing on the Arar investigation. He testified at the hearing held by two subcommittees of the House of Representatives' Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iOJs6iaANIVgWjBE6GtILHA_eiegD9141M180

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Evidence Prompts Extension of Arar Terror Probe, Official Says

By Jeff Bliss

June 5 (Bloomberg) -- The Department of Homeland Security's top investigator, citing new evidence, is extending his probe into the Bush administration's handling of a Canadian who said he was tortured after U.S. officials turned him over to his native Syria in 2002.

Richard Skinner, DHS's inspector general, said the evidence, which is classified, would be examined over the next 90 days.

``The information is such that it does merit a close look,'' Skinner said during a break in a joint hearing of House judiciary and foreign affairs subcommittees on the case of Maher Arar. ``We are trying to conduct additional interviews.''

Skinner said he is releasing a report later today on his investigation thus far into the Arar incident and is recommending the Department of Justice begin its own probe into the ``questionable activity'' of its employees.

more:http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=avPOZrhg2ggA&refer=canada

[EFerrari]

1. What a crock. n/t

[MasonJar]

2. Probably because the House is getting ready to investigate it, according

to the chairman of the House committee.

[L. Coyote]

5. I posted the hearing VIDEOS = House Judiciary

House Judiciary = OIG Report = Removal of Canadian Citizen Maher Arar to Syria
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x143484

[buckrogers1965]

3. Torture is always inappropriate.

If we aren't better than the bad guys, then what is the point?

[Canuckistanian]

4. At least it's getting attention

Arar's case has been a MAJOR deal here in Canada.

When his story came out, the outrage was palpable. A Canadian citizen, snatched from JFK airport and sent halfway around the world to be imprisoned and tortured.

Then later released, with no charges.

Damn right we're pissed.

[maddezmom]

6. Copy of report is up at Judiciary Homepage

http://judiciary.house.gov/Media/PDFs/ArarReport080318.pdf

[Jefferson23]

7. I pray to God these bastards pay for their crimes, a complete disgrace

and the constant bullshit spin makes me sick to my stomach. "questionable activity"...grrrr. Bush and Cheney have earned a place in JAIL.

[Supersedeas]

8. how long as Mukasey known the facts in this case, but has failed to act!?!