The Senate passed an anti-torture initiative over Republican opposition that would ban “enhanced interrogation techniques” that were used on terrorist suspects after the 9/11 attacks. The legislation prevents any U.S. government official—from the CIA to the military to any other government entity—from using any interrogation techniques not expressly outlined in the U.S. Army Field Manual. “It really is a great day, because it does say: ‘Never again,’” Sen. Dianne Feinstein told The Daily Beast. “I’ll take 70-plus votes any time.” While President Obama signed an executive order in 2009 banning EITs, a future president could merely reverse that order, which is why Feinstein and John McCain worked together to put a prohibition into law. The Senate bill still needs to be approved by the House and signed into law by the president.
— Tim Mak