Senator Tom Harkin called on the Bush Administration again today to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay after a new report from the Department of Justice Inspector General revealed that FBI agents witnesses torture of detainees at the facility.

The report shows that many of the FBI agents raised concerns about the legality and effectiveness of the techniques with the DOJ and with their own superiors, but the Bush Administration was unresponsive and continued interrogation tactics that FBI field veterans knew were counterproductive and illegal.

In a statement released today, Senator Harkin commented:

“We have long known that torture was used on detainees at Guantanamo Bay. How many more reports like the one released today must come out before the detention center is closed? Its continued operation is hurting our ability to wage an effective fight against the terrorists who attacked us on September 11, 2001. The facility is used in our enemy’s recruiting efforts and used by those who wish ill will to our brave soldiers. We must bring an end to this stain on our nation’s honor and close the prison at Guantanamo.”

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and five former secretaries of state, including James Baker, Henry Kissinger and Colin Powell have all called for the detention center to be closed.