Two civil rights groups say U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder should appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the CIA's use of torture and other extreme measures during interrogations.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Watch said Monday that a recent Senate Intelligence Committee summary report on the CIA includes descriptions of serious federal crimes not previously investigated by the Justice Department. Those groups want a special prosecutor to be given access to the full 6,700-page Senate report in order to conduct a criminal investigation.
Both say failure to conduct a comprehensive criminal investigation would contribute to the notion that torture remains a permissible policy option for future administrations.
They also said it would undermine the ability of the U.S. to advocate for human rights abroad.