13. John Yoo
John Yoo, a former Justice Department official, played a pivotal role in shaping the legal framework for the Bush administration’s ‘enhanced interrogation’ programs after 9/11. His memos, which justified the use of controversial techniques, ignited fierce debate over the boundaries of legality and morality in national security. Yoo’s robust defense of executive power and expansive interpretation of presidential authority remain deeply divisive, continuing to influence debates on constitutional rights and counterterrorism (via The Atlantic).
