President Obama’s desire to look forward, not back, is turning out to be easier said than done.
Last week, Newsweek reported that the long awaited CIA report on torture, set to be released today, reveals that agency interrogators staged mock executions of detainees.
And this morning, the New York Times reports that, according to a source, another long awaited report — this one by the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility — has recommended reopening nearly a dozen prisoner abuse cases, a move which could expose agency employees and contractors to criminal prosecution. Some of the cases looked at by OPR involve the death of detainees in U.S. custody.
The report has been under preparation for over five years, and its release has been eagerly awaited by members of Congress and others. It was reportedly submitted to Attorney General Eric Holder several weeks ago.
Newsweek reported earlier this year that a draft of the report was critical of the Bush DOJ lawyers, including John Yoo, who issued opinions backing the use of harsh interrogation techniques.
The Times now rates it “all but certain” that Holder will appoint a prosecutor to look into Bush-era abuses.
We’ll bring you the details on the CIA report when it’s out.
