March 3, 2009
An Open Letter to Senator Patrick Leahy
March 3, 2009
Dear Senator Leahy,
We felt compelled to write to you regarding your recent call for the formation of a “Truth Commission”. According to
your press comments, this Commission is supposed to look at the following:
* the politicization of prosecution in the Justice Department
* the wiretapping of U.S. citizens
* the flawed intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq
* the use of torture at Guantanamo and so-called black sites abroad
These are serious allegations of criminal activity by certain members of the Bush Administration. While we applaud your
initiative in looking into these matters, we feel this approach is wrong.
As the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, you already have the responsibility and legal authority to
investigate matters relating to federal criminal law without having to form a special commission. You are also bound by
your oath of office to support and uphold the Constitution by ensuring that those who govern also abide by the rule of
law.
Furthermore, a “Truth Commission” will not fix the real problems that our country faces, nor will it guarantee that we
will get to the truth. The 9/11 Commission, which you want to model your commission after, is a perfect example of that
flawed process.
The 9/11 Commission was mandated to follow the facts surrounding the events of September 11, 2001 to wherever they might
lead and make national security recommendations based upon those facts. Sadly, prior to even beginning their
investigation, like you, the 9/11 Commissioners agreed amongst themselves that their role was to /fact find, not fault
find/.
This decision resulted in individuals not being held accountable for their specific failures. These people were shown to
be incompetent in the 9/11 Commission’s Final Report but were left in their positions, or worse, promoted. No one should
be allowed to make this compromise on behalf of the American people. How can any agency be deemed fixed or reformed if
the people working there are inept? How can anyone feel safer?
At the 9/11 Commission hearings, little actual evidence was ever produced. Many individuals were not sworn in, critical
witnesses were either not called to testify or were permitted to dictate the parameters of their own questioning,
pertinent questions were omitted and there was little follow-up. Whistleblower testimony was suppressed or avoided all
together. The National Security Agency, an intelligence agency that is responsible for the collection and analysis of
foreign communications and foreign intelligence, was barely investigated at all.
With the narrative of the 9/11 Commission’s final report predetermined and with the preexisting intention to never hold
anyone accountable in place, the 9/11 Commission was doomed to fail as a real investigation. The end result of the 9/11
Commission’s work was that some of the recommendations that they produced were in fact, based on distortions and
omissions. Since their mandate of a complete accounting was ignored, the recommendations were incomplete at best.
There was clearly no desire on the part of Congress to force the Commission to meet its legislative mandate.
Accordingly, there were no repercussions for the fact that the investigation and its recommendations were incomplete. It
could be surmised that holding no one accountable was more important than uncovering and disclosing the truth. This
could compromise the future safety of American citizens. Why then would you want to model another Commission after it?
Why would you want another Commission at all?
Senator Leahy, in light of the fact that the 9/11 Commission’s worst offense was not fully investigating the September
11th attacks, completing that investigation should also be included on your list of matters to be examined.
America’s founding fathers, prescient in their fears of unrestrained power, created three separate but equal branches of
government. They had hoped to maintain and enforce the limits of the Executive Branch.
The Bush Administration was allowed to circumvent too many Constitutional restrictions effectively undermining America’s
system of justice, our nation’s integrity and commitment to the rule of law. The Bush Administration’s seizing of power
proves the adage that “absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
The days of no fault government must end; and where there is clear criminal activity, people must be prosecuted. The law
must be upheld without exception before we can be assured of the safety of the nation. These duties cannot be ignored
for the sake of expediency.
Senator Leahy, our nation needs you to investigate and, if warranted, refer the cases for criminal prosecution in
transparent trials. We do not need another meaningless commission resulting in no accountability at the taxpayers’
expense. Show all Americans that you have the courage to uphold the law, bring accountability to those who abuse their
positions of power and prevent such abuses from happening again.
The November 2008 elections proved that Americans want the rule of law restored for those in Washington who are elected
to represent us. You, Senator Leahy, are in the position to lead the way and work toward the change we were promised.
Sincerely,
*September 11th Advocates
*Patty Casazza
Monica Gabrielle
Mindy Kleinberg
Lorie Van Auken
ENDS