Congress subpoenas Cheney's chief of staff on torture John Byrne

Published: Wednesday May 7, 2008



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Print This Email This House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) today issued a subpoena to David Addington, Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, compelling him to testify before the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties on June 26 for any knowledge of harsh interrogation techniques employed at Guantanamo Bay approved by the Bush Administration. "This subpoena should not be controversial  as an institutional matter, all members should support our effort to learn the facts and to exercise responsible oversight in this area," Conyers said in a written statement Tuesday. "Furthermore, the proposed subpoena to Vice President Cheneys aide David Addington is being considered at the express request of the Counsel to the Vice President," he continued. "In view of the many reports that Mr. Addington played a key role in shaping interrogation policy, and in drafting legal memos on this subject, it is very important that we hear from him. I urge all members to support this authorization, which again the Counsel to the Vice President has stated would be accepted 'as a matter of comity.'" The subpoena, and its cover letter, follows. Cheney's office, through his attorney Kathryn Wheelbarger, have suggested they will seek to keep Addington from testifying by employing executive privilege.