re: #257 Rightwingconspirator

Jack Goldsmith, head of the Office of Legal Counsel, was forced to resign because of his objections to what was proposed.

That’s when Ashcroft stepped in and gave the go-ahead, and someone who agreed with his opinion was hired as the head of OLC.

It was never really debated in the WH—it was just approved and done and dissenters were fired or silenced, and those responsible were given iron-clad safety, for the most part, but IMHO, both Yoo and Bybee, authors of the standards for interrogation techniques, stretched executive authority, regardless of the various legal opinions of what was authorized.

On taking office, Pres Obama repudiated the “torture memos”.