Lawsuit Against Rumsfeld to Be Heard in Federal Court in D.C. (ACLU)

[Up2Late]

(This is an ACLU PRESS RELEASE, So I don't think have the same 4 paragraph restrictions. Please post any New articles if you find them here.)

Lawsuit Against Rumsfeld to Be Heard in Federal Court in the District of Columbia

June 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: [e-mail]

WASHINGTON -- A lawsuit that seeks to hold Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and others directly responsible for the abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. military custody will be heard in a federal court in the District of Columbia, a seven-judge panel ruled yesterday. The lawsuit, which was the first to name Secretary Rumsfeld in the ongoing torture scandal in Afghanistan and Iraq, was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First on behalf of eight Afghan and Iraqi men who were tortured while they were held in U.S. detention facilities.

"This brings us one step closer to proving in court that the legal responsibility for the systemic abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. custody in Iraq and Afghanistan lies at the top of the chain of command and not at the bottom," said Lucas Guttentag, lead counsel in the lawsuit and director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

In transferring the case to the federal court in the District of Columbia, the seven-judge panel, known as the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, consolidated for pretrial proceedings the suit against Secretary Rumsfeld with three separate complaints filed by the ACLU against Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinsky, and Col. Thomas Pappas. The decision to transfer the case to the District of Columbia was opposed by government lawyers representing the senior military commanders who argued that the cases should be heard in the Eastern District of Virginia.

"We welcome this decision and hope that we are closer to having a federal court reverse policy decisions that have led to torture and abuse," said Michael Posner, Executive Director of Human Rights First.

The case will be heard by Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan.

The groups are joined as co-counsel in the lawsuit by Rear Admiral John D. Hutson (Ret. USN), former Judge Advocate General of the Navy; Brigadier General James Cullen (Ret. USA), former Chief Judge (IMA) of the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals; and Bill Lann Lee, Chair of the Human Rights Practice Group at Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP and former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. Admiral Hutson and General Cullen are "of counsel" to Human Rights First.

More information on the lawsuit is available on line at www.aclu.org/rumsfeld or www.humanrightsfirst.org.

(here the link to this at the ACLU)
<http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=18561&c=206>

[wryter2000]

1. Oh, damn

I let my membership lapse because I'm not as rich as I used to be. Maybe I can find the reminder in my paper recycling pile and send it in.

ACLU <-- :woohoo:

[AuntiBush]

2. A Relative Asked me "What I'd Like for X-Mas..." Rec'd ACLU Card!

Know how you feel. Pretty sad, huh.

[Up2Late]

7. So, do you think this WILL happen? Or is Rummie going to...

...find a way to avoid any finding of guilt?

[dArKeR]

9. It only took me to renew when Franken did the O'Reject/ACLU story

[wryter2000]

29. I'll contribute

Luckily, the nice folks at the ACLU sent me another reminder that my membership had lapsed. Aren't they thoughtful? :evilgrin:

It's on my bill pile. Maybe not my next paycheck, but with my July royalty check.

[Up2Late]

3. Here's the Press Release from Human Rights First

( Check out all Retired Military Brass at the bottom!)

For Immediate Release: June 22, 2005

Contact: David Danzig [phone]
Erica Pelletreau, ACLU, 212 519-7829

Suit Against Rumsfeld to Be Heard in Federal Court in the District of Columbia

More on Ending Torture

WASHINGTON – A lawsuit that seeks to hold Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and others directly responsible for the abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. military custody will be heard in a federal court in the District of Columbia, a seven-judge panel ruled yesterday. The lawsuit, which was the first to name Secretary Rumsfeld in the ongoing torture scandal in Afghanistan and Iraq, was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights First on behalf of eight Afghan and Iraqi men who were tortured while they were held in U.S. detention facilities.

"This brings us one step closer to proving in court that the legal responsibility for the systemic abuse and torture of detainees in U.S. custody in Iraq and Afghanistan lies at the top of the chain of command and not at the bottom," said Lucas Guttentag, lead counsel in the lawsuit and director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

In transferring the case to the federal court in the District of Columbia, the seven-judge panel, known as the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, consolidated for pretrial proceedings the suit against Secretary Rumsfeld with three separate complaints filed by the ACLU against Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinsky, and Col. Thomas Pappas. The decision to transfer the case to the District of Columbia was opposed by government lawyers representing the senior military commanders who argued that the cases should be heard in the Eastern District of Virginia.

"We welcome this decision and hope that we are closer to having a federal court reverse policy decisions that have led to torture and abuse," said Michael Posner, Executive Director of Human Rights First.

The case will be heard by Chief Judge Thomas F. Hogan.

The groups are joined as co-counsel in the lawsuit by Rear Admiral John D. Hutson (Ret. USN), former Judge Advocate General of the Navy; Brigadier General James Cullen (Ret. USA), former Chief Judge (IMA) of the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals; and Bill Lann Lee, Chair of the Human Rights Practice Group at Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP and former Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. Admiral Hutson and General Cullen are "of counsel" to .

More information on the lawsuit is available on line at www.aclu.org/rumsfeld or www.humanrightsfirst.org/us_law/etn/lawsuit/index.asp

(here the link)
<http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/media/2005_alerts/etn_0622_rum.htm>

[EST]

5. And the drip, drip, drip just keeps coming.

Will it turn into the torrent to wash away the dark horrors that have beset us?

I cannot avoid the unpleasant notion that this horror will not go quietly. The guiding principle, the only conscience many of them have, runs deeply throughout the mindset that puts loyalty to peer group above the good of the country. That principal, "if I'm going down, I'm taking as many with me as I can," worries me no end.
What sort of calamity can these monsters create to mark their passing? I shudder to imagine.

[Up2Late]

6. Maybe you're worrying to much. I think if he took the, "I'm not taking...

...the fall without taking the rest you with me" tactic, it could be a good thing.

Didn't the Iran-Contra indictments and the Watergate inducements sweep out a bunch of bad actors?

I think he will take some others with him, but I don't think it will be anyone I'll be crying over.

[EST]

10. The ones I'm worrying that they may take with them is us!

These bastards have not come into office to be swept away. I don't believe they have any intention of leaving office, at all. Every indication that I can see points to their intention never to have to face up to their crimes by staying in office into perpetuity, by whatever means necessary, just as they made no plans for leaving Iraq because they never had any intention of leaving.

[alittlelark]

22. What was b*sh's first act upon stealing the POTUS in 2000?

Sealing Reagan's and daddy's records. They will never allow the depth of their crimes to scorch in the light of day. This cabal will do WHATEVER is nessesary to hide their secrets and loot our country (and any others they can get their WMD's on).


We are at a turning point.... the question is, how many of us have blinders too narrowly focused to see the curve???

[EST]

24. This is the latter day mafia.

Fer instance- what the hell is that arch criminal-conservative-hypocritical liar-failed speaker (I realize many of these terms are repetitive) Newt Gingrich doing, still hanging around DC mucking up the gov't? This revolution has to include many of the senior Democrats, as well as the maniacal neocons, giving them the heave-ho and putting people in there who will open the books and dedicate themselves to truth, justice et cetera, ad nauseum (dreamin' here,) giving the country a true, fresh start.
All that molestation of children that we know went on in the 80's-90's, and is still probably going on, absolutely must be exposed, reputations must be destroyed.
In order to give up the sin and make a true beginning, it must be owned and whatever whipping you've got coming, take it and hope for the best.
A thorough house cleaning is definitely in order, letting the chips fall where they may.

[alittlelark]

25. I HOPE for the best... but think the US is a 'global alcoholic'

It has to hit ROCK BOTTOM before any change is made in it's core being.....


sigh.

[EST]

26. Unfortunately, too, too true.

[Zhade]

23. You echo my own fears.

NT!

[David Zephyr]

4. Kudos to the ACLU

:toast:

[dArKeR]

8. I say a prayer every night!

[Up2Late]

30. That's a great Picture, what was the Original?

And what is * holding?

[dArKeR]

31. That is the original of a premonition I had and then printed from memory

I have a sixth sense.

aWol is holding granola bar. I guess he figured it was the best food he'd have in the slammer.

[vj68]

11. WOOHOOO!!!!

:dem::dem::dem::dem:

[GetTheRightVote]

12. Thank you ACLU for bringing this man to a court of justice, I only hope

that justice is served upon him.

:kick:

[Tiggeroshii]

13. kick!

That is reallly big news to me. The ACLU is an exceptionally profound organization... Admirable.

[ailsagirl]

14. They DESPISE the ACLU... (gee, wonder why) this is great news!!

[Liberty Belle]

15. Has the GOP packed this court yet?

[Up2Late]

17. I think this is the court that one of the "Filibustered Judges" just got..

...confirmed too, but it looks like they are going before the Chief Justice.

[ngGale]

20. Hope this works for the ACLU and all the brave...

who tread into Bushville. All the crimes and so little time.
Praying for the judge to be fair.

[Rainscents]

16. Oh, man... There is a GOD!!! Thank you ACLU!!!

I am a proud member of ACLU!!!
:toast: :bounce: :yourock:

[Kenergy]

18. ACLU is doing an excellent job keeping the pressure on...

please join up if you haven't already and support them.

[paineinthearse]

19. question of priorities

Why does a post of this significance warrant 18 replies, and a post about CHICKEN! - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3499154 - warrant >140???

Sheesh!

[Kenneth ken]

21. Thomas F Hogan

this is the same judge as in the Plame case, who ordered the NYT reporters to jail for contempt. edit: Matthew Cooper (sp?) and Judith Miller

FWIW. . .

[Disturbed]

27. Rumsfailed is a War Criminal.

Rumsfailed Admitted to Violating Geneva Convention

Rumsfailed admitted in public on TV that when CIA Director Tenet requested that an Iraqi prisoner be sent to a secret Afghan/US Prison that Rumsfailed did so. After four months a DOD Attorney stated that this was an illegal act. Rumsfailed then ordered that this prisoner be sent back to Abu Graihib but the prisoner was purposefully not listed at that location, also an illegal act. Rumsfeld also admitted to signing orders for tougher interogation methods which violated the Geneva Conventions.

Rumfailed has commited at least three violations of the Geneva Convention thereby also violations of The Constitution of the USA. Recently it has been found out that even more detainees were "ghost detainees". The fact that Rumsfailed and Tenet have not been charged speaks volumes. If Congress wishes to garner any respect they should move forward with Rep. Rangle's Impeachment Declaration of Rumsfailed and also proscecute Ex. CIA Tenet.

[Up2Late]

28. Kick n/t

:kick: