U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Statement On The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s CIA Report

U.S. Rep Gregory W. Meeks Statement On The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s CIA Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Gregory W. Meeks issued the following statement on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s report on the Central Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation Program:

“I commend Senator Feinstein for her courageous leadership as Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in releasing the executive summary and findings of the Committee’s report. The Intelligence Committee’s release is an important step in demonstrating to ourselves and the world that America is able to admit its past mistakes. The report outlines missteps taken during a difficult time in our nation’s history. After the 9/11 attacks on our nation, the intelligence community, entrusted with protecting Americans, at times failed to live up to the democratic and constitutional principles that they are obligated to uphold and protect. It is crucial that as a nation we learn from these mistakes and correct them. Holding our institutions accountable in a responsible manner is not only a core Congressional oversight responsibility, but also serves as an example of democracy in action.

“That the report’s summary and findings were declassified and released publicly demonstrates that transparency in our government is more than rhetorical. That being said, I am troubled by details in the report that the CIA detention and interrogation program was ill conceived, poorly managed, and inaccurately reported by the CIA.

“In addition to troubling violations of human dignity, the CIA also misinformed Members of Congress thereby willfully disrupting Congress’s constitutional duty to oversee CIA operations. In addition to Congress, the CIA also misled the White House, the Department of Justice, and the public. All of these revelations are disturbing and we must move forward as a nation, remaining committed to fixing these wrongs and standing up for the great democratic ideals on which we were built.

“To those who question whether the release of this report threatens our national security, I have but one thing to say: Living up to the core principles and beliefs that make this country great is in our national interest. It is only by building international credibility with the rest of the world that we will ever be confident about our national security here at home.” [End]