Should any government agency be above the law? Well as recently as Thursday 30 August 2012 CNN Justice Producer, Terry Frieden wrote an article, "Justice Department won't prosecute CIA interrogators in two prisoner deaths."would imply as much. Frieden wrote:
[The Justice Department on Thursday closed its criminal investigation of the deaths of two prisoners in CIA custody, ending a controversial investigation that Attorney General Eric Holder had approved more than a year ago.
The investigation, conducted by veteran Justice prosecutor John Durham, examined alleged CIA interrogation abuses in connection with prisoner deaths at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq in 2003 and at a secret prison in Afghanistan in 2002.
If the probe had led to criminal charges against CIA officers or contractors, it could have ignited a firestorm of objections by Republican lawmakers and the national security community.
Holder acknowledged that he made a controversial decision to appointed Durham in 2009 to examine allegations of CIA interrogation abuses in about 100 cases. His aides say he was aware the Obama White House wanted the torture controversies put behind it, but Holder pressed on. Republican lawmakers and the CIA were upset about the new review of alleged detainee mistreatment.
In June 2011, Durham concluded that nearly all of the allegations should not be prosecuted. However, he said he wouldlook into two cases in which prisoners died while in custody.On Thursday, Holder said no charges would be brought in those cases.
"Assistant U.S. Attorney John Durham has now completed his investigations, and the Department has decided not to initiate criminal charges in these matters," Holder said in a written statement. While praising the work of the men and women in the U.S. intelligence community, he left unanswered whether he believes inappropriate actions were taken against prisoners during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Our inquiry was limited to a determination of whether prosecutable offenses were committed and was not intended to, and does not resolve, broader questions regarding the propriety of the examined conduct," Holder said.
CIA Director David Petraeus sent a statement to all CIA employees marking the end of the investigation and ignoring the lingering controversies. "As intelligence officers, our inclination, of course, is to look ahead to the challenges of the future rather than backwards at those of the past. Nonetheless it was very important that we supported fully the Justice Department in its efforts," he said.]
This pretty much suggest that the CIA does not really have to be accountable for their actions, as long as they feel it's for the greater good of the country, or would ruffle some feathers - ignited a firestorm of objections by Republican lawmakers and the national security community - at least that what some may conclude.
Correct. In a constitutional government (or any republic in general), the law applies to everyone.
Correct. In a constitutional government (or any republic in general), the law applies to everyone.
Also described as the concept of limited government. Hold that government and its officers are always subject to and never above the law.
It is important that the government and its officers are held accountable for their actions and are subject to the same laws as the citizens they govern. Upholding the principle of equality before the law is crucial for maintaining a just and fair society. Any perception of government officials being above the law undermines trust in the system and can lead to corruption and abuse of power.
Organizations that have to exist by law. They are government funded, 'free' services (although not actually free as our taxes go towards them)
the rule of law
Above the Law
It states that any powers not given to the federal government belong to the people.
limited government
Above the Law
Above the Law
Above the Law