Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties today held an oversight hearing on the role that Bush Administration lawyers played in creating, developing, and implementing interrogation policies that have resulted in the widespread abuse of detainees in U.S. custody and control. Among the witnesses was Douglas Feith, former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and one of the architects of the Administration’s legal and policy framework for interrogations.

“We know that the Bush Administration created and implemented these so-called ‘enhanced’ interrogation techniques,” said Rep. Nadler. “We need to know who provided the guidance for the formulation of these rules, and if that advice was appropriate and legal. It is not simply enough for our government to say that torture is un-American – we need to take steps to ensure that our government, regardless of the administration in charge, will not torture.”

Today’s hearing is the fourth in a series on this topic and included testimony from Feith, Philippe Sands, Professor of International Law at the University College London, and Deborah Pearlstein. On Thursday, the full Judiciary Committee is expected to examine the same issue.

Feith was initially scheduled to appear before the Subcommittee on June 18, but on the morning of the hearing, his attorney informed the Chair that he was unwilling to attend. On June 24, the Subcommittee adopted a resolution “authorizing the Chairman to issue a subpoena to compel the testimony of Douglas Feith.” Mr. Feith’s appearance today was ensured by that subpoena.

Previous hearings have included testimony from David Addington, Chief of Staff and former Counsel to the Vice President, John Yoo, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Daniel Levin, former Assistant Attorney General, and Lawrence Wilkerson, former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

“We have a time honored system of checks and balances in America,” Nadler added. “One key component of that system is the oversight responsibilities of Congress. As we continue with this investigation, I am determined to bring the truth to light.”