US won't file charges against CIA officers who destroyed torture interrogation videotapes

[Better Believe It]

CIA Officers Won’t Be Charged in Destroying Tapes
By Justin Blum
November 9, 2010

The Justice Department isn’t bringing criminal charges against Central Intelligence Agency officers involved in destroying videotapes of harsh interrogation techniques used on terrorism suspects.

John Durham, the prosecutor appointed to handle the case, aided by a team of attorneys and FBI agents, conducted an “exhaustive investigation” and decided not to pursue a criminal case, according to a statement issued today by Matthew Miller, a Justice Department spokesman.

The Justice Department’s decision is “a huge disappointment,” said Christopher Anders, senior legislative counsel in Washington for the American Civil Liberties Union. He said the tapes should have been preserved and provided to the ACLU in response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the organization.

“There’s a lot of evidence that top government officials during the Bush administration ignored orders from federal courts to not destroy evidence related to torture,” Anders said in an interview.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-11-09/cia-officers-won-t-be-charged-in-destroying-tapes.html

[gateley]

1. Do they give a reason? Is it a legal thing? (Can't click now, at work.) Thanks! nt

[Better Believe It]

3. Here's the Justice Department one paragraph press release. No real explanation given!

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Department of Justice Statement on the Investigation into the Destruction of Videotapes by CIA Personnel

WASHINGTON – The following statement may be attributed to Matthew Miller, Director, Office of Public Affairs:

"In January 2008, Attorney General Michael Mukasey appointed Assistant United States Attorney John Durham to investigate the destruction by CIA personnel of videotapes of detainee interrogations. Since that time, a team of prosecutors and FBI agents led by Mr. Durham has conducted an exhaustive investigation into the matter. As a result of that investigation, Mr. Durham has concluded that he will not pursue criminal charges for the destruction of the interrogation videotapes."

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/November/10-ag-1267.html

[Better Believe It]

6. Amazing. They didn't even try to give a reason and political justification for their decision!

Well, at least they didn't make something up.

[ibegurpard]

8. we can't dwell on the past...we need to learn from our mistakes and move on

or something like that i'm sure

[jody]

2. If charges are filed the defense would be "The President ordered me to do it". SCOTUS would never

hold any President guilty so IMO the case is moot.

[Better Believe It]

4. That's not a good reason to not press charges, is it?

[jody]

5. No it's not but IMO that's just the way it is under our corporatist state government. n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

7. Of course not. The term 'justice' is meaningless in this country. n/t

[Karmadillo]

9. Pass the bananas!

nt