On Tuesday, in a New York Times article on President-elect Barack Obama’s search for a CIA director, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) was quoted in a manner that suggested she embraced “flexibility” in terms of allowing torture in interrogations. The comments by Feinstein, who will take over as chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee in January, worried opponents of torture. But Feinstein’s staff tells Spencer Ackerman that the paper cut out a crucial sentence from her statement. Here’s Feinstein’s full statement with the excised sentence highlighted:
“The law must reflect a single, clear standard across the government, and right now the best choice appears to be the Army Field Manual,” Senator Feinstein said. “I recognize that there are other views, and I am willing to work with the new Administration to consider them. However, my intent is to pass a law that effectively bans torture, complies with all laws and treaties, and provides a single standard across the government.”