Washington, DC - The Boston Globe reported yesterday that while signing the bill that outlaws the torture of detainees, President Bush reserved the right to bypass the law.  Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), author of the Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act, made the following statement in response to the news that the President issued a signing statement that he will interpret the law in the broader context to protect national security.

“Last month the President finally agreed to a provision in the Defense Appropriations Bill that banned the use of torture in interrogation, at least that is what he said publicly in a press conference.  But then, when no one was looking, the President wrote a special exemption for himself from the law.  Once again, the President seems to think that he is above the law.”

The Globe story reports that an unnamed White House official confirmed that “Bush may have to waive the law’s restrictions to carry out his responsibilities to protect national security.”

Markey continued, “Apparently, the President believes he has the power to waive or ignore any law he wants whenever he wants.  It's time for Congress to halt this type of power grab and reassert its Constitutional authorities."