Heinrich Backs Reforms To Prevent Future Use Of Torture

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 5, 2015) — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is supporting a series of reforms to prevent the future use of torture. The recommendations, which were derived from the committee’s five-year review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program, were outlined in a letter from Chairman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) sent to President Obama last week.

Senator Heinrich made the following statement today:

“In her letter to the President, Senator Feinstein lays out clear and necessary reforms that were made even more apparent during the Senate Intelligence Committee’s review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program. In particular, I look forward to working with her to officially close the legal loopholes that were used to authorize the torture of CIA detainees.

“Further, I hope President Obama will take seriously the opportunity he has to administratively implement reforms that will lead to more objective oversight of CIA activities, clarify the chain of command and responsibility for covert actions, and strengthen accountability processes for those who violate rules and procedures at the CIA.

"This was a grave chapter in our history. The actions taken under this program cost our nation global credibility, and they put the lives of Americans at risk. The Committee’s study provides a thorough accounting of what happened and how it happened. Now we must ensure that it never, ever happens again."