WASHINGTON - April 22 - The Senate Armed Services Committee released its much-anticipated and newly-declassified report late yesterday on the treatment of detainees while in U.S. custody. The 232 page report--the result of an 18 month investigation by the Committee--shows that harsh interrogation methods used on detainees were authorized at the highest levels of the Bush White House. This follows last Thursday's release of four Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) memos that provided the legal rationale justifying the interrogation methods.

"The Senate Armed Services Committee report, in conjunction with last week's release of the OLC memos, underscore the need for an independent nonpartisan commission of inquiry into the detention, transfer, interrogation, and treatment of suspected terrorists," said Virginia Sloan, president of the Constitution Project. "Through a comprehensive examination of the past, our nation can understand how we were led astray and know we are now headed in the right direction. Only with this hindsight can we ensure the rule of law has been restored in America."

The Constitution Project submitted a statement in support of a nonpartisan commission to the Senate Judiciary Committee in March, in connection with the Committee's hearing to examine the creation of a truth commission. The Constitution Project also joined a bipartisan group of advocacy organizations and leaders from across the political spectrum in February to call on President Obama to appoint a nonpartisan commission to examine policies related to the detention, treatment, and transfer of detainees held in U.S. custody.

To view the statement submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee, go to:
http://www.constitutionproject.org/manage/file/108.pdf

To view the group statement to President Obama, go to:
http://www.constitutionproject.org/pdf/accountability_statement.pdf