Top CIA Legal Official Quit In Protest Of Bush Administration’s Torture Policies
Top CIA Legal Official Quit In Protest Of Bush Administration’s Torture Policies
The CIA’s Inspector General (IG) has investigated some of the Bush administration’s most controversial programs, includings its detainee torture policies. In 2004, IG John L. Helgerson issued a report warning “that some C.I.A.-approved interrogation procedures appeared to constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as defined by the international Convention Against Torture.”
The New York Times reports today that CIA Director Michael Hayden, who has been unhappy with Helgerson’s aggressive oversight, has ordered an internal investigation into Helgerson. The move is “unusual, if not unprecedented, and would threaten to undermine the independence of the office.”
Helgerson wasn’t the only government official concerned with the Bush administration’s torture policies. Harper’s Ken Silverstein reports today that “several sources” have told him that a senior CIA legal official quit in protest of such “enhanced interrogations” policies:
[I]t turns out that a former senior CIA legal official quit in protest over the administration’s use of “enhanced interrogations.” This official, whose name I have promised not to publish, previously worked as a deputy IG for investigations under Frederick Hitz, who served as CIA IG between 1990 and 1998. From there, the official moved on the CIA’s Office of General Counsel.
What’s interesting is that this official was generally known as something of a hardliner. I haven’t been able to pin down the date of his departure, which may have occurred a year ago or more. However, the sources tell me he couldn’t stomach what he deemed to be abuses by the Bush Administration and stepped down from his post.
Silverstein also reported in April 2006 that there was “a quiet conspiracy by rational people” at the CIA to “avoid involvement” in some of the Bush administration’s most objectionable policies, such as rendition.
UPDATE: Spencer Ackerman has House Intelligence Committee chairman Silvestre Reyes’s (D-TX) reaction to Hayden’s investigation of Helgerson HERE.
UPDATE II: Ackerman also points out that Bush’s prep school buddy Clay Johnson III may lead the investigation into Helgerson. Johnson “keeps a George Bush doll on his desk.”
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Just one week after the New York Times revealed the existence of secret Bush administration memos condoning an uninterrupted policy of detainee torture by the CIA, it appears to be payback time. In a highly unusual move, the Times reports CIA Director Michael Hayden has ordered an investigation into the agency’s watchdog office itself, led by Inspector General John L. Helgerson.
For the details, see:
October 12th, 2007 at 2:23 pm“Payback Time: CIA Director Investigates His Inspector General.”
They fight! and bite!
They fight and bite and fight!
Fight, fight, fight!
Bite, bite, bite!
The Georgie and Cheney show!
Another one bites the dust. Even CIA Director was going to investigate his own Inspector General. The list of corruption within the Bush Administration has grown longer than a roll of toilet paper. Who else is next to hit the streets?
October 12th, 2007 at 2:30 pm“The United States does not torture.”- George W. Bush
yeah……right. And I’m the King of Romania too.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:30 pmCIA Director Hayden, “apparently Mr. Helgerson didn’t get the memo. We don’t do oversight in this Administration. Have I seen IG Helgerson recently? No, can’t say that I have. He went overseas to look into the “rumor” that we maintain Blacksites or something. Haven’t seen him since. Damn, I really miss ice cream Friday’s since Rovey left. I think Dick’s got some ice cream in his man-sized safe…see you later…maybe”
October 12th, 2007 at 2:31 pmI’d put out a plea for this guy who left the CIA to PLEASE come forward and testify as to the illegal activities he’s seen but I have a sneaking suspicion that he’s experiencing the whole rendition thing first hand.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:33 pmI STILL don’t understand the reticence of the Democrats to bring this thing to the forefront immediately and continually.
How can they possibly lose on the issue?
The President can’t claim executive privilege since this would be investigating possible crimes.
If this doesn’t meet the Constitution’s standard of “high crimes” I don’t know what would.
Has this nation sunk that low that we are simply willing to turn our heads to crimes that we would condemn a third rate dictator for?
October 12th, 2007 at 2:38 pmI STILL don’t understand the reticence of the Democrats to bring this thing to the forefront immediately and continually.
Comment by dogjudge — October 12, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Either they approve of the lawbreaking or Bush has something on them from the illegal wiretaps.
October 12th, 2007 at 2:48 pmEither way, the whole lot of them are guilty of violating their Oath of Office.
Caption Contest:
“I just saved me a bunch of money by bugging GEICO’s phones.”
October 12th, 2007 at 2:58 pmBush and the gang have much to fear when power slips from their grip. I have no doubt that many career people at DOJ, CIA, and other agencies are laying low because they fear retribution. Some of these people will be looking for payback when it looks safe to stick their necks out.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:08 pmI realze that the CIA is not in the habit of revealing allof its employees’ names (but the Vice President is), but this made me wonder:
Assuming that none of these positions were classified, and given that they are public employees, how hard would it be to cross-reference a list of all Deputy IG’s who worked under Frederick Hitz against a list of all CIA IGs between 1990 and 1998 and against a list of employees of the CIA’s General Counsel (from 1990-present), to find a common name? It just sounds to me like he gave away enough info about his confidential source to possibly out him.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:10 pmI hate anyone who would subvert our system of checks and balances. The Director of the CIA should be the last person on earth to be free of oversight. Why would the Director of the CIA be upset about aggressive oversight? Why does he have the authority to investigate those who investigate him? Doesn’t he want to know what’s going on within his own CIA? Should he be trusted by the American people when he doesn’t trust our system of checks and balances? His investigation of the IG should be investigated by congress. Trusting anyone in the Bush administration isn’t just foolhardy, it’s irresponsibly negligent.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:16 pmAs usual the GW666 Ministry of Truth are out to stop any of that TRUTH from getting out.
Come on CIA guys, do the right thing and spill the beans on this Fascist Corrupt Gang of War Criminals.
Send GW666 and Darth Dick to the Hague where they belong.
Buck Fush
October 12th, 2007 at 3:21 pmCan we please rendition Darth and the chymp to the Hague before they end life as we know it on this planet?
October 12th, 2007 at 3:22 pmi guess that makes the IG of the CIA an ally of Osama bin Laden.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:23 pmhe probably hates our troops too.
not to mention a civilized democracy.
goddamn traitor!
send him off to gutmo!
Someone on an earlier thread commented that Director hayden looks alot like the father on “That 70’s Show”. I propose that he does in fact resemble
October 12th, 2007 at 3:24 pmthis actor, but to me he seems more like the character he portrayed in Robo Cop.
In other news, there ARE rational people in the CIA.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:28 pmSomeone on an earlier thread commented that Director hayden looks alot like the father on “That 70’s Showâ€. I propose that he does in fact resemble
this actor, but to me he seems more like the character he portrayed in Robo Cop.
Comment by A Patriot Acting — October 12, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
i beg to differ! just look at that mug! it belongs in a nazi SS uniform.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:31 pmi’m sure he was a character in Hogan’s heroes!
i beg to differ! just look at that mug! it belongs in a nazi SS uniform.
Comment by LividLib — October 12, 2007 @ 3:31 pm
My first thought.
October 12th, 2007 at 3:58 pmWhere did you find the photo of Hayden in a suit and tie?
I thought his pajamas had four stars sewn on each shoulder.
October 12th, 2007 at 4:36 pmCaption Contest: “Yes, its true, *sniff *I’m proud of my boy, Karl, he looks just like me.”
October 12th, 2007 at 5:54 pmHayden is shorter than Kim Jong-il, but has as a huge ego for a yes-man.
October 12th, 2007 at 6:27 pmKeeping the GWB doll on that guy’s desk is the weirdest part of all.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:39 pmJohnson “keeps a George Bush doll on his desk.â€
That’s gay!!!
October 12th, 2007 at 8:40 pmAs Berk Breathed so eloquently once said:
“Aaaawk . . . barf me a hair ball.”
October 13th, 2007 at 3:43 am