Udall plans to quiz CIA nominee on ‘torture report’

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Bob Berwyn
Sen. Mark Udall.

Sen. Mark Udall.

Senators want John Brennan to reform CIA interrogation practices

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — It may be business as usual for incoming CIA chief John Brennan, who was was unprepared this week to discuss a recent classified U.S. Senate report on the agency’s detention and interrogation program, but that stance doesn’t sit well with at least a handful of senators, who plan to grill Brennan about the report at his confirmation hearing next week.

Among them is Mark Udall, Colorado’s senior Democratic senator, who has often expressed concerns and questions over whether U.S. Intelligence agencies are violating civil rights and U.S. laws in some of their programs.

“I was deeply disappointed today during my meeting with John Brennan. A few weeks ago, I had asked that he be prepared to discuss at today’s meeting the findings of the Senate Intelligence Committee‘s comprehensive study on the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation program,” Udall said in a statement. “Not only was he not prepared to discuss the important findings, but he hadn’t reviewed the report at all,” Udall said. (more…)

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Colorado Sen. Mark Udall presses for Patriot Act reform

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Sen. Mark Udall.

Colorado lawmaker quizzes intelligence agency leaders on civil liberties and U.S. torture policy during joint committee hearing

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Invoking a famous Benjamin Franklin  quote on liberty and security, Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colorado) this week called on the Obama administration to finalize membership of a watchdog group formed to guard against over-zealous intrusion into the privacy of citizens in the name of the war on terrorism.

Udall’s comments came during a joint hearing of the Senate and House Intelligence Committees about the lessons of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and follows his earlier calls for more transparency about how intelligence officials interpret anti-terrorism laws including the Patriot Act.

The Senate has failed to confirm two key appointments to the independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a delay that has drawn criticism from the co-chairs of the 9/11 commission. Last year, President nominated two members for the five-member board, but they have not yet been confirmed by the Senate, and one additional member needs to be nominated and confirmed for a quorum. The ACLU’s Patriot Act page is online here. (more…)

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