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October 7, 2008 10:40:33 PM CDT

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CIA 'Gulled' Court on Torture Tapes, Says Judge

Posted Jan 18, 08 5:25 AM CST in US 

(Newser) – A federal judge said he suspects the CIA lied to his court about tapes showing the harsh interrogations of two al-Qaeda leaders, the New York Times reports. The CIA claims no records exist concerning the tapes, which were destroyed in 2005. But the judge, currently deciding a Freedom of Information Act request concerning the videos, says that's not credible. “I just can’t accept it,” said Manhattan Judge Allen Hellerstein.

"If it came up in an ordinary case, it would not be credible. It seems to me that the court was gulled." The destroyed tapes reportedly showed interrogation methods used on two suspected al-Qaeda members. Hellerstein threatened to question CIA officials himself about what the tapes showed.

Source New York Times

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This photo provided by U.S. Central Command, shows Abu Zubaydah, date and location unknown. He is ione of two al Qaeda operatives whose interrogations by the CIA were videotaped.(AP Photo/U.S. Central...   (Associated Press)
CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden following a closed-door meeting with the House Intelligence Committee on the issue of destroyed CIA interrogation tapes. A ferderal judge now says the CIA deceived his...   (Associated Press)
CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden following a closed-door meeting with the House Intelligence Committee on the issue of destroyed CIA interrogation tapes. A federal judge says the CIA decieved his court...   (Associated Press)
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al-Qaeda  • CIA  • torture  • ACLU  • Freedom of Information Act  • Abu Zubaydah  • interrogation tapes  • Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri


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