No subject

=C2=A0=20

At a hearing today with Attorney General Eric Holder , Republican members o=
f a Senate Appropriations subcommittee suggested that any potential crimina=
l investigation into the CIA's harsh interrogation methods might not easily=
 be contained.=20





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Both Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Richard Shelby of Alabama pressed Hol=
der on the CIA's "rendition" program that moved terrorism suspects from one=
 country to another.=C2=A0=20





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Didn't that happen during the Clinton administration?=C2=A0=20





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Yes, Holder said.=C2=A0=20





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"How many did you approve?" they asked.=C2=A0=20





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Holder said he'd check the record.=20





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The clear suggestion was, if any criminal investigation is opened, Republic=
ans would push to get it expanded beyond events during the Bush administrat=
ion. Alexander, for example, asked several times whether members of Congres=
s, who were told about the interrogation methods, should also be investigat=
ed.=20





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As for a potential investigation of the lawyers who wrote the Justice Depar=
tment=E2=80=99s Office of Legal Counsel opinions approving harsh interrogat=
ion methods, Holder said -- as he has several times now -- that he remains =
skeptical.=C2=A0=20





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"We're not trying to do anything that would be perceived as partisan,=E2=80=
=9D he said. =E2=80=9CWe want to move forward to the extent we can."=20





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Today's hearing also provided another avenue for members of Congress to tel=
l the Obama administration they're very worried about bringing Guantanamo B=
ay detainees into the U.S., where they might be released. Holder said no on=
e who was dangerous or a threat to the community would be released anywhere=
 in the world.=20