Inspector General Glenn Fine announced that his office will conduct an internal affairs-disciplinary type investigation into the treatment of detained immigrants in Brooklyn after 9/11.

The inspector general, Glenn A. Fine, briefed lawmakers on a highly critical report delivered by his office earlier this month on the treatment of Sept. 11 detainees, and said that investigators had "serious concerns" about a pattern of verbal and physical abuse faced by 84 illegal immigrants at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.

Investigators found that some guards slammed inmates against walls, dragged them by their arms, stepped on the chains between their ankle cuffs and made slurs and threats like "you will feel pain" and "you're going to die here," Mr. Fine told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Ashcroft and the Justice Department refused to bring criminal charges against the guards. Bureau of Prison officials are still trying to justify the treatment of the detainees, saying any instances of misconduct were isolated. Even Orrin Hatch was upset at the treatment:

"Neither the fact that the department was operating under unprecedented trying conditions nor the fact that the 9/11 detainees were in our country illegally justifies entirely the way in which some of the detainees were treated," said Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah and chairman of the Judiciary Committee. (Clue for Mr. Hatch: Drop the word "entirely"--there is no justification period.)

On the other side, was Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) "who warned against exaggerating the inspector general's findings and placing overly burdensome restrictions on law enforcement." (Schumer recently suggested Arlen Specter be considered for the Supreme Court. Schumer is one of the most law and order Democrats out there.)

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)had the correct analysis--he labeled the conduct disclosed by the Inspector General's report an "abuse of power" by the Justice Department.