Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) denounced the contents of a draft order leaked to news organizations that shows President Donald Trump is considering asking for a review of methods for interrogating terror suspects in the United States’ custody.
“The President can sign whatever executive orders he likes. But the law is the law,” the statement reads. “We are not bringing back torture in the United States of America.”
Trump is asking for a review of the government’s methods for interrogating terror suspects and looking into possibly reopening CIA-run “black site” prisons outside the United States, according to a report Wednesday by the Associated Press and other news outlets, citing a draft executive order.
On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly professed his support for bringing back waterboarding as a “minimum” interrogation method.
McCain, who served as a Navy pilot during the Vietnam War and was held for more than five years as a prisoner of war, denounced the President’s support for torture before and after Trump’s unexpected victory in the 2016 election.
In February, McCain asked if voters “want a President who will violate the law.”
After the election in November, McCain pledged to push back against Trump if he tries to implement waterboarding or torture.
“I don’t give a damn what the president wants to do,” he said. “We will not waterboard. We will not torture people.”
“If they started waterboarding,” McCain added, “I swear to you that we’d have them in court in a New York minute.”
