Atty. Gen. Michael Mukasey won’t say publicly whether the interrogation tactic known as waterboarding is illegal.
In a Tuesday letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, Mukasey said he finished a review of Justice Department memos about the CIA’s current methods of interrogating terror suspects and finds them to be lawful. He said waterboarding currently is not used by the CIA.
Because waterboarding is not part of what Mukasey described as a “limited set of methods” used by interrogators now, he said he would not rule on whether it is illegal.
Coming up: Mukasey’s letter was sent on the eve of his appearance at a hearing led by Leahy.
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WHAT IS WATERBOARDING?
Waterboarding is an interrogation technique that makes a prisoner believe he is in imminent danger of drowning.
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Page compiled from Tribune news services
