MoveOn Unleashing Legal Terror

Dear MoveOn member, Quick quiz: You’re a powerful government lawyer who gives the legal go-ahead for a secret U.S. torture program. Do you: a) Lose your license to practice law b) Go to jail c) Win a lifetime appointment to one of the highest courts in the land In the case of Jay Bybee, the answer is “c.” Bybee, the lawyer responsible for many of the worst Bush-era torture memos, is currently serving on the prestigious 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, thanks to his old boss, George W. Bush. That’s just not right. Jay Bybee showed no respect for our laws and isn’t fit to be a federal judge. Can you sign our petition to Congress calling for the impeachment of Jay Bybee? [LINK REMOVED] The petition says: “Jay Bybee, the man behind the torture memos, is unfit to be a federal judge. Congress should impeach him. President Obama said last night that torture “corrodes the character of a country.” He’s right. Jay Bybee, who violated the law by coming up with a “legal” rationale for waterboarding and other acts of torture, isn’t qualified to hold a position charged with upholding our Constitution. The outcry for his impeachment is growing; leading progressive in Congress are demanding answers,1 and 20,000 Americans have called for Bybee’s impeachment.2 As The New York Times said: “Mr. Bybee is unfit for a job that requires legal judgment and a respect for the Constitution. Congress should impeach him.“3 The calls to impeach Bybee are getting noticed—but Congress hasn’t acted yet, and might not, unless we ramp up the call for accountability. There’s a real chance Bybee will be held accountable, but only if we show Congress that if they lead, we’ll support them. Can you sign the petition today? [LINK REMOVED] Thanks for all that you do. –Nita, Kat, Peter, Ilyse, Justin and the rest of the team Sources: 1. “Pressure grows to impeach Bybee over ‘torture memos,’” The Times of London, April 29, 2009 2. “Podesta Calls For Bybee Impeachment On CNN, Delivers Your Petitions To Congress,” Think Progress, April 26, 2009 3. “The Torturers’ Manifesto,” The New York Times, April 18, 2009 Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

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