Anti-Torture Coalition Files Additional Information With Disciplinary Committees...

Anti-Torture Coalition Files Additional Information With Disciplinary
Committees Against Twelve Lawyers Who Advocated Torture

WASHINGTON, June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On June 9, 2009, a broad
coalition of organizations representing over one million members filed
supplementary material with five state legal disciplinary committees in
support of its complaints to disbar twelve Bush Administration lawyers who
advocated the use of torture -- John Yoo, David Addington, John Ashcroft,
Douglas Feith, Alice Fisher, Alberto Gonzales, Michael Chertoff, Michael
Mukasey, Michael Haynes, Stephen Bradbury, Jay Bybee, and Timothy Flanigan.
This information includes:

-- General David Petreaus' May 29, 2009 statement that the United
States "violated the Geneva Conventions" by using torture on
captured detainees;
-- General Ricardo Sanchez's May 31, 2009 statement that the United
States committed "war crimes" by torturing detainees;
-- Department of Justice emails from Deputy AG James Comey stating that
Alberto Gonzalez was "weak" by succumbing to White House
political pressure to approve torture, and warning AG Gonzales that
the
approval would come back to haunt him and the DOJ;
-- The American Bar Association resolution condemning torture and "any
endorsement of such measures by government lawyers, officials and
agents."

-- The May 20, 2009 National Public Radio report stating that Alberto
Gonzales authorized torture as White House Counsel even before the DOJ
issued the torture memos.

These supplemental filings are posted on the coalition website,
www.disbartorturelawyers.com along with the original complaints filed on May
18, 2009.

Coalition spokesman, attorney Kevin Zeese, who directs VotersForPeace.us said,
"The actions of Alberto Gonzalez and the other lawyers who facilitated torture
were critical to the program proceeding. There was dissention in the DOD, CIA
and DOJ, which was suppressed for political purposes, over the use of torture.
Without the involvement and approval of government lawyers, the torture
program, very likely, would never have developed. The torture memoranda
drafted and used by these attorneys provided assurance to employees in these
agencies who feared prosecution and accountability for their participation in
the war crime of torture. Now it is time for these torture lawyers to be held
accountable."

The coalition expects to soon file complaints against additional government
attorneys whose involvement in torture has been confirmed.

The coalition urges other organizations to join this campaign by sending an
email to disbartorturelawyers(at)velvetrevolution.us. Individuals can sign on
at www.disbartorturelawyers.com.

SOURCE www.velvetrevolution.us

Kevin Zeese of www.velvetrevolution.us, +1-301-996-6582