Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) ripped President Trump on Wednesday for defending torture, asking if he wants to "lead this country into shame and barbarity."

"Whatever Trump may or may not want, Congress and the American people must defend American values. No torture," Sanders said.

The Vermont senator, who is a member of Democratic leadership, questioned if Trump is willing to break international law and warned that restarting torture could have negative consequences for U.S. troops.

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"Does Trump really want to lead this country into shame and barbarity, and undermine the values that have made us a great and respected nation?" Sanders asked. "Does Trump really want to tell our military adversaries that, if America does it, they also have the right to torture captured American soldiers?"

Trump pledged during the presidential campaign to bring back waterboarding and a "hell of a lot worse" and defended torture on Wednesday, telling ABC that it "works."

Trump added that he would consider reinstating currently outlawed "enhanced interrogation" techniques depending on the advice of his national security team, but stressed that "we have to fight fire with fire."

Democrats have pounced on a draft executive order that would revoke a series of Obama administration rules that closed CIA "black sites," granted Red Cross access to all detainees and limited interrogators to techniques approved in the Army Field Manual.

Sen. Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBattle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts MORE (D-Vt.) said Trump should "put this draft executive order in the trash where it belongs."

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The reported draft also earned pushback from GOP Sens. John McCain John Sidney McCainThe electoral reality that the media ignores Kelly's lead widens to 10 points in Arizona Senate race: poll COVID response shows a way forward on private gun sale checks MORE (Ariz.) and John Thune John Randolph ThuneThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks Senate GOP eyes early exit MORE (S.D.) who both predicted pushback if the administration tried to revert to the now-outlawed interrogation methods.

The Senate voted in 2015 to formally ban torture, though 21 GOP senators voted against the amendment from McCain.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Wednesday that the document wasn't from the White House, adding “I have no idea where it came from."

But he refused to answer questions about whether Trump was weighing the basic policy recommendations contained in the draft order.

Leahy argued Spicer's comments didn't go far enough and that "alternative facts" wouldn't change his and other lawmakers opinion on torture.

“It is not enough for Trump administration aides to deny this draft came from the White House," he said. "The administration should denounce it.”