Newly declassified FBI interview notes reveal a former CIA station chief wanted to destroy videotapes of detainee torture to avoid leaving a mess for his successor. The release, prompted by a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, is the first tranche of a larger trove of documents from John H. Durham’s criminal investigation into the post-9/11 program.
These records aim to provide an oral history of the controversial Bush administration initiative, which included techniques like waterboarding. The documents show agency leaders allegedly sought to destroy the tapes for political reasons. While the Senate Intelligence Committee's study relied on documents, CIA officials refused interviews, a gap Durham's investigation was meant to fill.
The government is now releasing redacted versions of the FBI interview reports, with more expected monthly.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing