Testifying Before Congress, Rendition Victim Maher Arar Gets Apology From Bi-Partisan Lawmakers but None From White House

On Thursday, Arar testified before a House Judiciary and Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on extraordinary rendition. It marked the first time Arar had a chance to tell his story to U.S. lawmakers. But he couldn’t testify before Congress in person.

Even though the Canadian government has cleared his name, Arar remains barred from entering the United States because the Bush administration maintains that he poses a national security threat.

• David Cole. Professor of Law at Georgetown University. Co-Author of “Less Safe, Less Free: Why America is Losing the war on Terror.” He’s also the lead lawyer for Maher Arar, Canadian citizen and victim of the US extraordinary rendition program.

In a moment we will be joined by Democratic Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York but first let’s turn to Maher Arar’s testimony last week before Congress. He spoke via videoconference because he is still barred from entering the United States.

• Maher Arar. Testifying last week by video conference before a Congressional hearing.