A New York Democrat argued that failing to prosecute former Bush administration officials complicit in the use of torture would create a dangerous precedent and place America on a path to "tyranny."
In an interview with Raw Story, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) invoked a "supremacy of laws" when critiquing President Barack Obama’s decision to "look forward and not backwards" on his predecessor’s abuses of power.
"Those who misuse government power to break the law and subject people to improper pressure or torture ought to be prosecuted," said Nader, chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. "That’s why we have laws."
The Brooklyn-born Nadler, who has represented New York City since 1993, has taken a special interest in championing civil liberties during the last decade. He rebukes the Patriot Act. He opposes FISA wiretapping. He rejects the partial suspension of Habeas Corpus to fight terrorism.
"Since the Patriot Act, I think we've gone overboard," Nadler said. "Not that we've gone overboard on security, we certainly need the security, but we've done things that are unnecessary to do in terms of restricting civil liberties."