Former Missouri Senator John Ashcroft cannot be sued for ordering a man held in a terrorism investigation

The United States Supreme Court says former senator John Ashcroft cannot be held liable for ordering a man held as a material witness in a terrorism investigation.  The action was taken when Ashcroft was President Bush’s Attorney General.  The man is a United States citizen who was never charged, although he was held for 16 days.  He also never testified in any proceedings against other alleged terrorists.  A lower court had ruled Ashcroft could be sued.