National Religious Coalition Sends Letter to Sen. Graham, All Members of Judiciary Committee Expressing Grave Concern about Haynes Nomination

Monday, July 10, 2006

Washington, D.C. – The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT), joined by other religious organizations, sent letters today to all 18 members of the Senate Judiciary Committee expressing grave concern about the nomination of William J. Haynes II to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The faith-based coalition also sent a similar individual letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) last Friday. A JAG officer himself, Sen. Graham has been outspoken against the administration's efforts to circumvent anti-torture laws and has expressed concern about Haynes regarding the advice he provided the Bush administration on the treatment of detainees as General Counsel at the Defense Department.

The Judiciary committee plans to hold a hearing on Haynes’ nomination tomorrow, Tuesday, July 11. Since Sen. Graham is one of 10 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and 10 favorable votes are required to report a nominee to the floor of the Senate, Sen. Graham’s opposition to Haynes’ nomination could prevent a floor vote on his nomination.

The letter from NRCAT outlines Mr. Haynes’ key role as an architect of U.S. policies allowing interrogation techniques that amount under law to torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees. The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on Haynes in November 2003 and voted him to the floor in March 2004, but Congress adjourned without taking action. President Bush re-nominated him in February 2005.

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) empowers members of America’s faith community to join one another in religious witness to ensure torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment never play a role in U.S. policy. NRCAT bridges theological and political divides by uniting mainstream Protestants and Evangelical Christians; Muslims with Reform and Conservative Jews; Orthodox and Roman Catholics; Sikhs and members of peace churches behind a single message: Any U.S. policies that permit torture and inhumane treatment are shocking and morally intolerable.
Full membership and more information about NRCAT is available on the NRCAT website at www.nrcat.org.

CONTACT: Jeanne Herrick-Stare at (202) 547-6000 x 2513, jeanne@fcnl.org or Jessica Watson at 202-544-7921, press@faithinpubliclife.org.