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Why the Obama Administration defends John Yoo
In January 2008, five months after he was convicted for conspiring to commit terrorism, Jose Padilla filed a lawsuit claiming he had been tortured. His suit named former Department of Justice lawyer John Yoo, whose memos authorized the methods used. As President Bush left office and President Obama entered, the case worked its way toward the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and by this summer it looked like Yoo could face trial.
Now, the Department of Justice is asking the court to dismiss the case. Why?
Civil libertarians will see this as further evidence that Obama is continuing the Bush-era policies Yoo helped justify. Obama has indeed maintained some practices such as detention and surveillance (though he does not appear to use them to nearly the extent of his predecessor), and he may fear a precedent that could be used against his own administration.
But this White House is no friend of John Yoo.