The letter also calls for the prosecution and punishment of those who violate humanitarian law, asking for the “impeachment and removal from office of any civil officer of the United States responsible” for these crimes.
Bartholet said that the implication and reach of such a congressional investigation has the power to reach every post in the civil service.
“It could go as far up to and including the president,” she said.
Because the letter was not finalized until the end of exam period, many HLS students remain oblivious to the letter, though Vincent Y. Liu, a first-year law student, said that he approved of the letter.
“I think what happened in the prison of Iraq is abhorrent,” he said. “I hope this letter can wake the conscience of some legislators, especially from the Republican wing of the Congress.”
—Staff writer Risheng Xu can be reached at xu4@fas.harvard.edu.