Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

Jonathan Bronstein, Talk Radio News Service

The Obama Administration's release of formally classified memos detailing alleged pre-meditated torture techniques approved by Bush Administration officials has placed many lawmakers at a crossroads. President Obama recently delegated the monumental task of deciding whether to prosecute any formal high ranking officials who knowingly allowed for the use of torture against so-called enemy combatants to Attorney General Eric Holder.

Today while testifying in front of the House Appropriation Committee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, Holder stated "With regard to those members of the intelligence community who acted in good faith and on the reliance of Justice Department opinions that were shared with them, it is not our intention to prosecute those individuals."

Holder's comments were nearly identical to Obama's recent remarks at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, where he pledged his support to those officials who followed the orders of their superiors.

But U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) said that he wanted ensure that Americans understood all the facts behind the use of torture as a means of getting vital intelligence information for enemy combatants. Wold asked Holder if anymore memos existed, like those alluding to unreleased memos referenced to by former Vice President Dick Cheney which he says prove that the harsh tactics yielded positive results, Wolf asked Holder if any such memos existed.

"In fairness to the American people, once you (the Obama administration) made a decision to release the existing memos that you put out then you have an obligation to release the rest of the memos," said Wolf

Holder responded forcefully. "I am the Attorney General and I do not control many of these memos that you are referring to."

Yet, at the conclusion of the hearing, Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) stated his hope, "At the Justice Department politics is out and justice is back," he said.