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April 16, 2009

Spanish Prosecutors Recommend Dropping Torture Probe Against Bush Admin Lawyers
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In Spain, prosecutors are planning on asking a Spanish court to drop a
criminal investigation into whether six Bush administration lawyers,
including former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, violated
international law by providing the legal framework to justify the Bush
administration’s use of torture at Guantanamo. Spanish law allows it to
claim jurisdiction because five citizens or residents say they were
tortured while imprisoned there. Earlier today, Spanish prosecutor
Candido Conde-Pumpido said the case has no merit because the Bush
officials weren’t physically present when the torture occurred. The suit
could still go forward despite the prosecutors’ stance. The presiding
judge, Baltasar Garzon, pursued the case against former Chilean dictator
Augusto Pinochet over prosecutors’ advice.



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