Justice to Investigate Destruction of CIA Tapes

The Justice Department and the CIA inspector general have launched a joint inquiry into the agency’s destruction of video recordings of so-called harsh interrogation techniques. Color us skeptical, since Attorney General Michael Mukasey couldn’t be bothered to take a position on torture — or harsh interrogation techniques, if that’s the term you want to use — during his confirmation.

Congress is also likely to investigate what could amount to the CIA’s obstruction of justice and “false testimony” (aka lies) to lawmakers.

Los Angeles Times:

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department and the CIA’s Office of the Inspector General said Saturday that they had launched a joint inquiry into the CIA’s controversial destruction of videotaped interrogations of two Al Qaeda suspects. The preliminary inquiry would be a first step in determining whether a full investigation and potential criminal charges were warranted.

The probe had been under discussion since shortly after CIA Director Michael V. Hayden disclosed Thursday that CIA officials had made the videotapes in 2002 and destroyed them three years later. The Justice Department has asked for an initial meeting with the CIA’s legal staff and inspector general, John L. Helgerson, early this week.

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