(CNN) – Peter King, the New York congressman likely to challenge Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2010, is blasting the Obama administration's decision to investigate Bush-era CIA interrogations.
"It's bullsh*t. It's disgraceful. You wonder which side they're on," the Long Island Republican told Politico Tuesday.
On Monday, Attorney Gen. Eric Holder asked federal prosecutor John Durham to examine whether CIA interrogations of suspected terrorists were illegal in the months and years after the September 11 attacks.
Holder said he decided to expand Durham's mandate after examining reports from the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility as well as a classified version of the 2004 CIA inspector general's report into questionable interrogation techniques, among other documents."
King is the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee and a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence. His comments are significantly more critical than those of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, who called the decision "poor and misguided."
The White House said Tuesday that President Obama supported Holder's decision.
"It's a total breach of faith, and either the president is intentionally caving to the left wing of his party or he's lost control of his administration," King said Tuesday.
From CNN Politics
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Peter King is the most despicable congressman I know and unfortunately he is my neighbor. Such a disgrace. At least he does not speak in MY name !
What's the matter? You afraid of what they'll find out what everyone's been saying right along that Bush and Cheney are WAR CRIMINALS. If we tourture, what do we expect them to do to our captured soldiers? DUH????
Why is investigating criminal activity by the CIA "disgraceful"? It would seem to me that what is "disgraceful" is the fact that there is enough proof of criminal activity by the CIA to justify an investigation. Somewhere along the way, the difference between right and wrong has been skewed by these folks.
We have met the enemy, and they are alive and not well and working for the Justice Department. Eric Holder, you are a disgrace.
Peter King and Dick Cheney don't want activist judges, they want an activist Executive Branch. But when they are not in control of that Executive Branch, they don't want it to do anything.
We are a country which follows the Rule of Law for everyone, both parties, or we are not. You can't have it both ways.
LOL!!!! Republicans keep crying! Cheney is scared!! I love it!!
No, the "poor and misguided" GOPer enabling this injustice is total BS and a disgrace to the laws they swore to uphold.
Our great nation experienced eight, horrible years of this nonsense from neocons. Never again. America deserves justice.
I am all about human rights – however, if you are faced with individuals that are so straight forward about killing americans left and right and satisfy their justifications on top of everything else with religious beliefs, well you got to do what you got to do. Unfortunately these interrogations are needed – does not matter if you save one american life or a thousand. People have no clue what people in the far east would do if they see an american nowadays. One good example is is the cartel war in mexico, those cartels are so brutal beyond understanding. Unfortunately you need to be tough in return, sad but true. Times are changing these days, asking people to stop their violence in a friendly voice does not work anymore – and believe me this is just the beginning that we are going to see.
The good congressman needs to pull his head out. The disgrace is the low road taken by the Bush Administration, CIA, and others to put America on the moral defense.
The republicans are right. We should just allow the CIA, FBI and Dept. of Homeland security to do whatever they want, whenever they want, with no risk of any consequences. After all, they meant well.. right?
I think the record shows that there were many instances of prisoner abuse. And that needs to be investigated. This country has always stood for for doing what is right and not wgat is wrong. We need to maintain our values.
Great, and while the DOJ is replowing old ground, let's also readdress the issue of when Speaker Pelosi and the Select Committee on Intelligence were briefed on the interrogation methods. I wonder is she will continue to claim that the CIA lied to her, or will DOJ find that she lied to the American people?
This whole issue is a blatant political effort to distract from the resistance to the administration's big government health care plans by returning to the campaign mode of "Bush is Bad." I think the American people are getting tired of this and I know we see through it for the sham that it is.
Wolf's in the hen house will finally (hopefully) get their comeuppance. More and more evidence is surfacing that Bush, Cheney and many other's under their chain of command committed serious crimes against the Constitution of The United States of America. They should be held accountable and punished severely for those crimes if they are convicted. I for one would like the whole ugly truth to be brought into the light. Holder is merely doing his job, it is correct to investigate the many abuses of power that occurred during the Bush/Cheney regime.
It is "disgraceful" to investigate our government engaging in torture? Peter King needs to get some morals.
So, Rep. King, anything goes, as long as it's the USA doing it? Does the same go for Al-Queda, that anything goes in interrogating U.S. military that they capture? I'd love to see a public broadcast of Rep. King, Dick Cheney, Sean Hannity, and all the other chicken hawk Republicans being subject to the same techniques that the CIA used. Come on, guys, put up or shut up!
Bull!!!! is too kind. I have never witnessed anything so stupid as this and the reading of rights to combatants. Holder should start investigating all the corrupt individuals in Congress. A new day is coming for the 2010 elections and the voters will straighten this regime!!!!!
So-called Americans, like King, never cease to amaze me. How easily they forget America was made great because we were once a respectable nation of laws, working tirelessly to uphold truth and justice.
King and his ilk have conveniently put politics ahead of history and humanity.
Shame on them.
We all are on the same side right? The side of justice and if the probe leads to nothing, then why all the fuss?
Torture is illegal in this country and most civilized places around the world. I'm not sure why many Republican politicians don't understand that.
This is disgraceful. What happened to the President that promised reconcilation? It appears it is all rhetoric. Where is the beef?
No, Peter. What's disgraceful are scumbags like you who started the illegal nonsense in the first place. No doubt, most of you "tough guys" have never stood a day in harm's way in the defense of this great nation. For if you had, you would understand that every respectable warrior knows and cherishes the fact that the United States DOES NOT TORTURE! Those who went beyond what was authorized are criminals...period.
You wonder which side they're on?? How about on the side of integrity and justice and lawfulness and morality? Those things still matter to some of us.
Yes, it does make one wonder which side they are on, ours or theirs? Some of the comments I've heard makes me think that we are supposed to just take terrorism, and let it go? I'll bet it would be different if one of Nancy Pelosi's, or Rosie O'Donnell's children had been in one of the twin towers. These are terrorist, people, not like they would be so generous with any of our people!
King is crazy! These people broke the law and those who break the law are prosecuted, enough said, they must be looked at these acts and bring justice. We are a nation of laws and we cant give that up because these torture methods may or may not have given us information. I wouldnt trust a thing Cheney ever says!
What is Peter King trying to help cover up ? We The People deserve to know the truth and have complete transparency in government. AT ALL LEVELS.