During Thursday's Senate hearing on the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for US attorney-general, the White House counsel angered some senators by repeatedly denying that his role in loosening the legal definition of torture had in any way contributed to the abuse of detainees in US custody.

"I'm just trying to find out where the accountability is for [what] you and I both agree is a terrible blot on the United States," said Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, after another failed line of questioning.