Obama agrees to classify abuse photos

The Hill:

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Wednesday that an agreement has been reached on a two-part solution to ban the release of any photos depicting abuse of U.S. military detainees.

Speaking to reporters in the Senate, Graham said White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel called to pledge to him and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) that President Obama would issue an order classifying the photos if Congress does not pass a law to ban their release.

“If necessary, he said the president would make sure those photos never see the light of day,” Graham said. “The only way you’d be able to do that is to make sure they’re considered national security documents. That’s their commitment to me and the country, and I take them at their word.”

Specifically, Graham said Attorney General Eric Holder assured him that Obama is considering an order that would classify the photos.A White House aide had no comment.

Separately, Graham said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has agreed to a July 8 vote on a standalone bill to ban the photos from being released. Graham said that either a free-standing vote would be held or the bill would be passed by unanimous consent.

...
This is the solution I suggested earlier after Pelosi and the House Democrats tried to clear the way to get the pictures released. It is a solution he probably tried to avoid in order to avoid heat from his base.

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