Rizzo Testifies to Torture

John Rizzo, top lawyer at the CIA, testified today before the Senate Select Intelligence Committee. During his tenure at the CIA, Rizzo oversaw the implementation of tortures including waterboarding, induced hypothermia, and standing for up to 40 hours. At his confirmation hearing for the job of CIA General Counsel, he admitted that agreed with the shameful 2002 US Department of Justice determination that torture must produce pain equivalent to "death" or "organ failure" to constitute torture under US law. Rizzo also refused to deny that the US does not outsource torture and conceded that the CIA treatment of detainees fell below the guarantees of Common Article Three [banning "torture" and " humiliating and degrading treatment"].

More on his stunningly forthright testimony here, here and here.