For Immediate Release November 7, 2005 Contact: Brett Garner Office: 801.983.PETE Cell: 801.573.4759 ASHDOWN ASSAILS HATCH'S CIA EXEMPTION TO TORTURE BAN Calls reversal "irresponsible" and "unconscionable" Promises to vote for "freedom, everywhere in the world" SALT LAKE CITY, UT--Pete Ashdown, US Senate candidate (D-UT), decried his opponent's decision to change his position and give the CIA an exemption to a ban on torture. Ashdown said: "Yesterday, Senator Hatch and came out on the side of fear, torture, and injustice. America should always be the beacon for human rights and dignity throughout the world. The use of torture extinguishes that light." Ashdown referred to Senator Hatch's statements on the CBS program Face the Nation in which he said "I'm on the vice president's side." instead of Arizona Senator John McCain's on the question of a Senate ban on torture by all branches of the US government. This stance comes a month after Hatch voted in favor of Senator McCain's amendment (Roll Call vote 249 on SA 1977 to HR 2863) to ban "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment" by the US Government. Ashdown said "When the people of Utah elect a Senator, they expect him or her to stand for freedom and human dignity. Transparency of our government will serve to root out the evil of abuse and torture." Ashdown promised he would vote for a ban on torture when he is elected to the US Senate. Ashdown praised American soldiers and civil servants who seek to discover the truth and save lives, while at the same time "upholding American honor and virtue" in their actions. "Our servicemen and women, our investigative agents, and the American people pray that we will win this war, but victory can not and should not come at the betrayal of our American principles."