The Daily MuckA lawyer for Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr says he was shown an operations manual that ordered interrogators to destroy notes, or any other evidence that would have signified harsh treatment which could be used by suspects in their trial defense. Khadr’s lawyer said he will use the manual to seek a dismissal of charges against his client. (Associated Press)
A German citizen is suing the German government to force the extradition of 13 CIA agents who allegedly kidnapped and tortured him. Mistaken for a terrorism suspect, Khaled al-Masri was abducted in Macedonia on Dec. 31, 2003 and taken to Afghanistan where he was tortured and probed for four months before his release in Albania. (Associated Press)
Despite public outcry,and a new majority Party, a study led by the Associated Press and assisted by two watchdog groups, the Sunlight Foundation and Taxpayers for Common Sense, found the earmark process in Washington D.C. is as strong as ever. A total of 11,234 earmarks at $14.8 billion ran through congressional bills this year, according the study. (Associated Press)
Nearly 60 House Democrats have sent a letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey calling for an independent investigation into the increased evidence that members of the Bush administration ordered harsh interrogation tactics to be used on terrorism suspects held overseas. The lawmakers agree in the letter, that further probes of such executive orders must be held in addition to ongoing congressional investigations. (Washington Post)
In light of a recent crane collapse in New York City that killed two, a New York senior buildings official has been found to have signed off on crane inspections he never executed and accepted thousands of dollars in bribes to help operators cheat on licensing exams. James Delayo, acting chief inspector with the Department of Buildings’ cranes and derricks division was released on bail Friday. Authorities say his actions do not appear connected to the May 30 crane collapse. (Associated Press)
Eric Feltner, chief of staff for Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R-MO), resigned Friday amid charges of furnishing a minor with pornographic material. The “minor” was actually an undercover police officer. In a statement, Feltner committed the acts in May and July 2007 and was “knowingly furnishing in written form material pornographic in nature to a female he believed to be only thirteen years of age.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
