A new showdown is brewing on Capitol Hill over the disclosure the Justice Department secretly issued memos granting expansive approval for harsh interrogation techniques. Democrats want the White House to turn over classified memos that reportedly authorized methods including head slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures. The existence of the memos was disclosed by The New York Times. Senate Intelligence Committee Chair John Rockefeller of West Virginia said: “I find it unfathomable that the committee tasked with oversight of the CIA’s detention and interrogation program would be provided more information by The New York Times than by the Department of Justice.” White House Press Secretary Dana Perino confirmed the memos were issued but refused to discuss their contents.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino: “I am not going to comment on any specific alleged techniques. It is not appropriate for me to do so. And to do so would provide the enemy with more information for how to train against these techniques. And so I am going to decline to comment on those, but I will reiterate to you once again that we do not torture. We want to make sure that we keep this country safe.”