White House Demonstrators Case Dropped

WASHINGTON -- A judge dismissed charges Wednesday against 16 anti-torture protesters who were arrested last year outside the White House.

The demonstrators were arrested Oct. 17 while attempting to present President Bush with a petition opposing legislation he signed that day authorizing tough interrogation and prosecution of terror suspects. The protesters contend the law authorizes torture.

The group was set to go on trial Wednesday on charges of interfering with agency functions when U.S. District Court Judge Deborah Robinson dismissed the case, said Mark Goldstone, the group's attorney-adviser.

They could have faced up to six months in jail had they been convicted.

The demonstrators were from groups including the Washington Region Religious Campaign Against Torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, D.C. Anti-War Network, Witness Against Torture, and PeaceAction Montgomery.