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Cheney Championed Interrogations Before Congress

Veep intervened when legislators got twitchy

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 3, 2009 4:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – Dick Cheney personally led at least four briefings with senior House and Senate members about harsh interrogation techniques, reports the Washington Post. The former vice president's interventions took place at critical moments when Congress was threatening to investigate or even outlaw techniques, such as waterboarding, that are widely considered torture. Although Cheney was a vocal advocate for the Bush administration's policies in public, his role in defending the program to Congress was previously unknown.

CIA documents delivered to Congress last month make no mention of Cheney's role in lawmakers' briefings on so-called enhanced interrogation techniques. At one contentious 2005 meeting, Cheney and then-CIA head Porter Goss tried to persuade John McCain to withdraw a proposed anti-torture amendment. "His office was ground zero," said Sen. Lindsay Graham. "It was his office you dealt with at the end of the day."

Former Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington last month. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

To the chagrin, perhaps, of Republicans looking to rebuild the tattered party, Dick Cheney has grabbed the spotlight. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, FILE)

Former Vice President Dick Cheney attends the Gerald R. Ford Foundation Journalism Awards luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington this week. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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Cheney Championed Interrogations Before Congress

Veep intervened when legislators got twitchy

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Cheney Championed Interrogations Before Congress

Veep intervened when legislators got twitchy

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Bush administration • Congress • John McCain • Dick Cheney • torture • Lindsey Graham • Porter Goss • harsh interrogation • enhanced interrogation techniques

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Judge Lets Army Vet Sue Rumsfeld Over Detention

American contractor says defense sec approved his detention, torture in Iraq

Rick Santorum: McCain Doesn't 'Get' Torture

Former POW's spokesman gets snarky in response

Osama Intel Boosts Waterboarding Fans

'Enhanced' interrogation may have led to terror mastermind

CIA Head Was OK With Destroying Torture Tapes

Emails indicate Porter Goss agreed with the decision

Gonzales Changes Tune on 'Legitimate' CIA Probe

Ex-AG compares torture to speeding (really)

About Us

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Newser By Users

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More News

What is Newser?