Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

March 16, 2010

While heading the Justice Department?s Office of Legal Counsel (or OLC) during the Bush administration, Judge Jay Bybee helped create a legal framework supposedly justifying the use of torture against terrorist suspects.

There is compelling evidence that he did so in exchange for his current position on the federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Washington Post reports that Bybee told then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez of his desire to be a federal judge. Gonzalez asked him first to take a post at the OLC, which ? as Gonzalez knew ? was framing arguments to justify torture.

Bybee, with the help of underling John Yoo (who aspired to Bybee?s post), gave Gonzalez the legal opinion that was being sought. A few years later, Bybee received his coveted federal judgeship.

Torture is a felony and a violation of the Eighth Amendment. Bribery is grounds for impeachment. Congress and the Justice Department must investigate the corrupt quid-pro-quo that institutionalized torture and placed Bybee on the federal bench.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.