Senate panel probes U.S. interrogation policies

Department of Justice Inspector General Glenn Fine told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday that the FBI has “generally avoided” controversial interrogation techniques although a sharp schism on the issue has existed since 2002 with the Department of Defense.

{mosads}At a special committee hearing on coercive interrogations, Fine hedged under questioning from Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) on whether suspects were ever tortured, saying that his report on the issue avoided defining the term. But Fine did fault FBI leadership for not doing more to raise concerns about harsh practices, and for avoiding clear policies for agents for years.

“We believe that while the FBI could have provided clearer guidance earlier and could have pressed harder its concerns about detainee abuse by other agencies, the FBI should be credited for its conduct and professionalism and for generally avoiding participation in detainee abuse,” Fine said.

Tuesday’s hearing was chaired by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who criticized the Bush administration for endorsing “unnecessary, unreliable and un-American” interrogation techniques.

Specter, the committee's ranking Republican, was also critical, saying the issue “ought to have a very heavy glare of congressional focus.”