Mayer: Cheney ‘Repeatedly’ Held ‘Highly Unusual’ Meetings With CIA IG Before Torture Probe Stopped
Mayer: Cheney ‘Repeatedly’ Held ‘Highly Unusual’ Meetings With CIA IG Before Torture Probe Stopped
In the spring of 2004, then-CIA Inspector General John Helgerson issued a classified report warning “that interrogation procedures approved by the C.I.A. after the Sept. 11 attacks might violate some provisions of the international Convention Against Torture.” Helgerson’s report “also raised concern about whether the use of the techniques could expose agency officers to legal liability.”
In an interview today, Harper’s Scott Horton asks investigative journalist Jane Mayer about the revelation in her new book that “Helgerson was summoned repeatedly to meet privately with Vice President Cheney” before his investigation was “stopped in its tracks.” Mayer said that Cheney’s interaction with Helgerson was “highly unusual“:
MAYER:Asked for comment, Helgerson through the CIA spokesman denied he felt pressured in any way by Cheney. But others I interviewed have described the IG’s office to me as extremely politicized. They have also suggested it was very unusual that the Vice President interjected himself into the work of the IG. Fred Hitz, who had the same post in previous administrations, told me that no vice president had ever met with him. He thought it highly unusual.
According to Mayer, Helgerson’s report is said to be “very disturbing, the size of two Manhattan phone books, and full of terrible descriptions of mistreatment.” Mayer added that Cheney’s interest in Helgerson proves that as early as 2004 “the Vice President’s office was fully aware that there were allegations of serious wrongdoing in The Program.”
In October 2007, CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden “ordered an unusual internal inquiry” into Helgerson’s office, focusing on complaints that Helgerson was on “a crusade against those who have participated in controversial detention programs.”
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
44 Responses to “Mayer: Cheney ‘Repeatedly’ Held ‘Highly Unusual’ Meetings With CIA IG Before Torture Probe Stopped”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Dick Cheney will go down as another Heinrich Himmler.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:46 pmHopefully, Cheney will soon be indicted, tried, convicted, and executed. He is a pathetic waste of human tissue, air, water, and food.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:47 pmMore evidence that Dick(head) Cheney is a war criminal and should be treated as such. He is nothing more than a sadistic, greedy bastard who uses war and intimidation to enrich himself and his special interests. And to continue with Marcus' assessment, he is blight and a disease upon all that is human.
July 14th, 2008 at 8:57 pmi hope when he has "the big one" he's in the bathtub and drowns too...poetic justice will serve him right.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:00 pmThe right side of his head looks like it's summoning a demon, the left side looks like it's about to bite.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:08 pmProgress is Winning Says:
Hahahahahaha! The CEO's would have it in for me from day 1.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:10 pmThe ugliness and the evil that Cheney embodies almost defies my rational grasp. This age of self-made potentates, who have become untouchable is rather frightening. I miss the good ole' days of Nixon, when we threw guys like Anew in the Potomac.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:12 pmLike all unethical-if-not-criminal things Republican, this will never make a headline.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:17 pmWe will get angry and beat our chests, we will take comfort from one another, and the story will go away because the media just doesn't care. First they were in love with Bush/Cheney, then they loved their war, then they hated Kerry/Edwards, then they began to see how wrong they were, but by then the calendar had moved forward, then they loved the fight between Hillary and Barack, then they loved to make Obama the center of false controversy, and they love McCain, and now as for Cheney and all things Bush -- they say what's the point.
Even if Still President Bush could protect interrogators who used illegal techniques from prosecution under U.S. Law, he still couldn't protect them from prosecution under International Law. And no amount of twisting of the relationship between International Law and U.S. Law by the John Yoos of the world will change the fact that these interrogators who used torture are in trouble.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:25 pmProgress is Winning Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Evil,
We need a leader and I feel you are the one. Progress is waiting, will you answer her call?
President Mr. Evil. I'll be the Chinese buffet with the Mongolian grille candidate!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:29 pmLets nuke Iran! I want to see Progressives cry!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:29 pm#28 Uncle Mo(stupid)
"All praise be to Allah!"
Wow! You are quite the RePugniScum...supporting GW Botch's Saudi butt buddies!
You do know that the Botch family s^cks Saudi a$$, right?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:29 pmBTW, Dick(head) Cheney is scum. All apologies to actual scum.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:31 pmProgress is Winning, You are almost as funny as Ann Coulter. I bet your love life's almost as funny as hers too. Why don't you run along now and write a profoundly funny book?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:31 pmProgress is Winning, Mr. Progress, and fluffy- are there more than just you three trapped in that tiny head?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:40 pmUncle Mo makes four, any more?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:43 pmWill the wingnut with three personalities, please take his meds?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:43 pmAnd go to bed?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:44 pmI't Mr. P.
How was rehab, P?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:46 pmHave the DT's subsided enough for rational discourse, P?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:47 pmKARMA sometimes takes awhile, but it will catch up with this EVIL man.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:49 pmDoes your big illusionary rabbit now recite verses from the Koran, P? That must be a real bummer when you're on a bender.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:49 pmIran must be wiped off the map. Nuke Iran and make Leftists cry!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:49 pmNuke Branson, and watch the slack-jawed inbreds cry!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:51 pmOh, before I forget: the VP is not only a DICK but he's also a CREEP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cip0jbZWzY
July 14th, 2008 at 9:51 pmWell, this little excursion to Wingnuttia is over for me. Talk to yourself.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:52 pmSo the promised "Trajan onslaught" of sockpuppet trolls is finally here.
Only a few days late.
And a few dollars short. Or, make that a few fries short of a Happy Meal...
July 14th, 2008 at 9:52 pmN. I. Now, Dick, aren't there people waiting to be eaten alive by you?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:56 pmIt's actually kind of amusing, watching sockpuppets argue with each other.
It's a little bit like Sheriff Bart holding a gun to his own neck in Blazing Saddles.
Only difference is, Sheriff Bart was talented and the people were dumb. In this instance, it's reversed. The sockpuppets are dumb and not talented.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:56 pmIt’s dead here tonight. I thought this would be a good time to discuss Progress.
Progress will be here in a couple of seconds...
July 14th, 2008 at 9:57 pmSo all yuse are bonin' up fer oppurashions Kayoss Too, huh?
July 14th, 2008 at 9:59 pmYou're optimistic, barfly.
Unless you know something I don't.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:59 pmYou’re optimistic, barfly.
Unless you know something I don’t.
He's going on a trip...
To Flagsville
July 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pmIf TP gets around to reading their messages...
July 14th, 2008 at 10:02 pmI LOVE to envision how Bush will BURN IN HELL for his crimes, and his MASTER Satan will SMASH HIS FACE IN every second
FOR ETERNITY...
While he ROASTS, just like TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan, now DEAD and BURNING for his GENOCIDE.
SWEET!!!
July 14th, 2008 at 10:19 pmThe ICC issued a warrant of arrest for the President of Sudan today. Perhaps we will see the same issued for Bush, Cheney and a few others in his administration. It's obvious that our own justice system will do nothing, and neither will the Congress. These are the conditions necessary for intercession by the international courts.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:02 pmWe need one more heart attack to match his five deferments from the war he was called to serve in. Deadeye Dick, Hope it hits your chest like a baseball bat, and runs down your arm like a blowtorch. We'll all be better off when your wretched little twenty-one grams flames downward into hell.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:34 pmcant we just execute this motherfocker already? Cheney is SATAN
July 14th, 2008 at 11:43 pmMr P Says:
The epitome of the “Progressive” movement.
Classy.
Obviously you Mr P is the epitome of stupidity. Another dimwit 25 percenter.
July 14th, 2008 at 11:45 pm.
OMFG...
Over half the thread is erased...
Trolls kept the site monitor REALLY busy, I see...
.
Headline:
Red Cross finds Bush administration guilty of war crimes
It's a rogue form of Government that is out of control while no one wants to reign it in...
Protect the Republic...
July 15th, 2008 at 1:03 amIMPEACH
INDICT
IMPRISON
...from war criminals!
.
Under the Nazi system, you're supposed to take orders, not question them. Don't you know you're dealing with people who know more than you do?
The average person has no idea how arrogant these people are.
How dare you question my orders, Strudel-Face!
July 15th, 2008 at 4:57 am"Helgerson through the CIA spokesman denied he felt pressured in any way by Cheney"...
"Just because a guy holds a gun to your head doesn't mean you have to change your opinion."
July 15th, 2008 at 5:51 amI understand Ben and Jerry's is coming out with a new flavor called Scary Berry with Dick Cheney's picture on the front.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:22 amImpeach Pelosi, Cheney and then Bush. Let the process take place, as intended by the Founding Fathers. Once that's done, then the first steps in Saving the Constitution will be complete. It will take some time to finally re-implement it, but it will be a start.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:15 am