CIA Probes Its Own Watchdog

In an unprecedented move, the director of the CIA is challenging the agency's own inspector general by ordering an internal investigation of his investigation, reports the Los Angeles Times. CIA Inspector General John Helgerson has issued a series of scathing reports about the agency; now director Michael Hayden has ordered a probe into whether Helgerson was impartial in his findings.

Hayden's investigation initially focused on Helgerson's criticism of  the agency's terrorist detention and interrogation programs, but it has been expanded. A former inspector general said the move could be perceived as an effort by Hayden to "call off the dogs" and undermine Helgerson. "The rank and file will become aware of it and it will undercut the inspector general's ability to get the truth from them," he said. (More CIA stories.)