An Ignoble Experiment: Hero needed

2014/11/23

Hero needed

We need a hero in the Senate to release the torture report

The petition to Sen. Mark Udall reads:
"Before leaving office, please submit the Senate Intelligence Committee's torture report to the Congressional Record. We know that you are considering undertaking this heroic and courageous act, and we and countless others will support you if you choose to do so."

Add your name:

Dear Indiana,

The Senate Intelligence Committee's "torture report" is expected to detail shocking abuse of prisoners at the hands of the CIA during the Bush administration.

It's also likely that the report will detail lies the CIA told Congress in order to cover up abuses.

It's been seven months since the Senate Intelligence Committee voted overwhelmingly to release the report to the American people. But the White House is stonewalling Congress and demanding "redactions" before making its contents public.

It's quite possible that the White House is colluding with the CIA to delay the release until after Republicans take over the Senate and we may never know the extent to which the CIA covered up torture.

Sen. Mark Udall, an anti-torture, pro-Constitution senator who lost his seat in the 2014 election could unilaterally release the report and tell the American people the truth about torture. Click here to take action.

We have a real chance to have the report released before the end of the year, when Senator Mark Udall leaves office.

Here's how it would work: Members of Congress have an absolute right to free speech, and as a member, Sen. Udall could release the report in its entirety without fear of prosecution.¹

This is how the Pentagon Papers, disclosing lies that underpinned our involvement in Vietnam, were released in 1971 when Sen. Mike Gravel entered them into the Congressional record.

That's exactly what transparency advocates are calling on the outgoing, staunchly anti-torture and pro-transparency Senator Udall to do – and he's made it clear that he's actively considering doing so.

This would be a courageous act that would incur the ire of very powerful interests – so we need to make sure that Sen. Udall knows countless people will support him if he chooses to move forward.

Click here to tell Sen. Mark Udall to be a hero and stand strong against torture: Please release the torture report before you leave office.

This is a chance to make history – and finally hold the Bush administration and the CIA's torturers accountable.

Thank you for joining me in the fight against torture.

Becky Bond, Political Director
CREDO Action from Working Assets

Add your name:

Article I, Section 6 of the United States Constitution provides that "for any Speech or Debate in either House, [a Senator or Representative] shall not be questioned in any other Place," protecting Senator Mark Udall for being prosecuted for anything said on the Senate floor, and, by extension, for anything entered to the Congressional Record.