Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he could not "in good conscience vote for any nominee who in any way has supported the use of enhanced interrogation." | Susan Walsh/AP Photo McCain opposes Trump nominee over torture memos

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who has already warned President Donald Trump against bringing back torture, is vowing to reject any administration nominee who has backed so-called enhanced interrogation techniques.

McCain was the sole GOP senator to vote against confirming Steven Engel to lead the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel earlier this week, citing his role in the controversial torture memos under the George W. Bush administration.


Engel told the Senate Judiciary Committee during his confirmation process that he “reviewed and commented” on a draft version of a July 2007 memo that signed off on enhanced interrogation techniques — although he declined to answer whether he believed the legal conclusion of the memo was correct. Engel was a deputy assistant attorney general at the time.

“Mr. Engel reviewed and commented on this memo, which attempted to justify interrogation techniques that violate the Geneva Conventions and stain our national honor,” McCain said in a statement to POLITICO on Wednesday. “I cannot in good conscience vote for any nominee who in any way has supported the use of enhanced interrogation."

Not only does that explain his vote against Engel, but it means McCain will almost certainly oppose confirming Steven Bradbury to be general counsel at the Department of Transportation. Bradbury authored the so-called torture memos under the Bush administration, which has already prompted Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) to put a hold on Bradbury’s nomination.

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McCain, already an outspoken Trump critic, has been particularly pointed in his criticism of the president’s views toward enhanced interrogation techniques. Tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, McCain warned Trump that the United States would not reinstate the tactic when reports surfaced in January that Trump was considering an executive order that would revive Bush-era detainee treatment standards.

“The president can sign whatever executive orders he likes,” McCain said then. “But the law is the law. We are not bringing back torture in the United States of America.”

Engel was confirmed 51-47 on Tuesday, and his Republican defenders in the Senate pointed out that he had widespread support from the legal community, including former DOJ leaders and Supreme Court clerks.