American Civil Liberties Union : Lawsuit Against Rumsfeld

There has never been a more urgent need to preserve fundamental privacy protections and our system of checks and balances than the need we face today, as illegal government spying, provisions of the Patriot Act and government-sponsored torture programs transcend the bounds of law and our most treasured values in the name of national security.

Lawsuit Against Rumsfeld (3/1/2005)

The Lawsuit Against Donald Rumsfeld
Over U.S. Torture Policies

(pdf)

VIDEO: Press Conference >

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld bears direct responsibility for the torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. military custody, the ACLU and Human Rights First charged in the first federal court lawsuit to name a top U.S. official in the ongoing torture scandal in Iraq and Afghanistan that has tarnished America's reputation.

Press: , English

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Illinois on behalf of eight men who were subject to torture and abuse at the hands of U.S. forces under Secretary Rumsfeld's command. The groups charged Secretary Rumsfeld with violations of the U.S. Constitution and international law prohibiting torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment.

LEGAL PAPERS
> Legal basis
> Rumsfeld complaint (pdf)
> Karpinski complaint (pdf)
> Sanchez complaint (pdf)
> Pappas complaint (pdf)

TORTURE DOCUMENTS
Government documents released under the ACLU's Freedom of Information Act suit

BIOS
> Plaintiffs involved
> Press conference speakers

NEWS RELEASES
> Rumsfeld Is Sued Over U.S. Torture Policies
English,

COALITION PARTNERS
> Human Rights First
> Lieff Cabraser Heimman and Bernstein, LLP

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