The CIA destroyed interrogation tapes - Updates

We don't torture. We just destroy evidence that might show torture.

The Central Intelligence Agency in 2005 destroyed at least two videotapes documenting the interrogation of two Al Qaeda operatives in the agency’s custody, a step it took in the midst of Congressional and legal scrutiny about the C.I.A’s secret detention program, according to current and former government officials.

The videotapes showed agency operatives in 2002 subjecting terror suspects — including Abu Zubaydah, the first detainee in C.I.A. custody — to severe interrogation techniques. They were destroyed in part because officers were concerned that tapes documenting controversial interrogation methods could expose agency officials to greater risk of legal jeopardy, several officials said.

I would add that the Detainee Treatment Act, or whatever it was called when McCain caved to the White House in late 2005, contained retroactive immunity for everyone involved.

Probably wouldn't stand up in The Hague, though.

Later: ABCNews also has the full Hayden statement which is very politically written to amply spread the blame, saying the leaders of the Congressional intelligence committees knew about all the destruction of the tapes, and remindng us once again that the "procedures" were approved by both the DoJ and "other elements of the Executive Branch."

Later Still: The WaPo has the details which sounds like destruction of evidence.

All the tapes were destroyed in November 2005 on the order of Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., then the CIA's director of clandestine operations, officials said. The destruction came after the Justice Department had told a federal judge in the case of al-Qaeda operative Zacarias Moussaoui that the CIA did not possess videotapes of a specific set of interrogations sought by his attorneys. A CIA spokesman said yesterday that the request would not have covered the destroyed tapes.

In the WaPo piece, "Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, said in a statement last night that lawmakers did not learn about the destruction of the tapes for another year."

Also, I think it's very important to understand that this took place under Porter Goss. Michael Hayden is just left to explain it.

(And if I remember right the head of clandestine operations who made this decision was a Goss appointee after a well liked and respected career man resigned over Goss' leadership.)