PenceBlog: Press Briefing: Pence meets with Indianapolis TV reporters at airport press conference - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

Today I met with television reporters from WISHTV and WRTV6NEWS at the Indianapolis International Airport to discuss the prison abuse controversy in Iraq from the perspective of a member of the International Relations Committee. I said that what happened at Abu Ghraib Prison was a disgrace but it is in no way indicative of the daily contribution of tens of thousands of courageous men and women serving in uniform in Iraq.

I also applauded the decision to move immediately to court martial trials beginning May 19 saying that the United States must bring those responsible for these despicable acts to swift and certain justice because the entire world is watching.

I also announced that I will be sending a letter to Secretary Rumsfeld this week urging that the Department of Defense should immediately make all known photographic and video records of prison abuse available to the public. The slow release of records one at a time creates a much worse impression than the sum total ever could.

As to calls for Defense Secretary Rumsfeld’s resignation, I said that I believe Secretary Rumsfeld is a great American who has led our nation’s military with courage and tenacity through 9-11, two wars and a Pentagon transformation, and he must not be lightly discarded. mrp

posted by Pence Press Office # 1:05 PM