Back on Capitol Hill, anti-torture protesters interrupted a Senate panel Wednesday as it heard testimony from the Trump administration’s pick to become the Transportation Department’s top lawyer. The protests came during a confirmation hearing for Steven Bradbury, who formerly served in the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel. In 2005, Bradbury authored memos justifying the Bush administration’s use of torture in interrogations. This is Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth questioning Bradbury.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth: “You were an architect of the legal justification for detainee abuse in the form of waterboarding and other forms of torture. In my opinion, that alone should disqualify you for future government service. And while you’re nominated to serve at DOT and not at Justice, your willingness to aid and abet torture demonstrates a failure of moral and professional character that makes you dangerous regardless of which agency you serve in.”

Steven Bradbury’s confirmation hearing came as the U.N. high commissioner for human rights blasted what he called President Trump’s “persistent flirtation” with torture. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said, “The president of the United States of America has said that torture could be necessary in certain circumstances. There is no longer any pretense. They are breaking long-held taboos. … The dangers to the entire system of international law are therefore very real.”