Justice Department Releases Torture Memos

WASHINGTON (CN) - The Justice Department on Thursday released four secret memos the Bush administration used to justify CIA torture. In releasing the documents, Attorney General Eric Holder said he would not prosecute anyone who acted under the opinions, and he withdrew them, saying they no longer represent the view of the Office of Legal Counsel. Click the icon for the first memo. Click the headline for links to the other memos.

Here is the May 10, 2005 memo from Acting Assistant Attorney General Steven Bradbury to Rizzo.

Here is a second May 10, 2005 memo from Bradbury to Rizzo.

And a May 30, 2005 memo from Bradbury to Rizzo.

The ACLU had demanded the documents in a FOIA lawsuit.

Immediately upon release of the memos, Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the documents illustrated the need for a commission of inquiry, which would offer immunity in exchange for testimony about the Bush torture programs.

The memos were written by officials in the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel.

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