Helgerson's

The secret findings of CIA Inspector General John Helgerson led to eight criminal referrals to the Justice Department for homicide and other misconduct, but those cases languished as Vice President Dick Cheney reportedly intervened to constrain Helgerson's inquiries.

Secret CIA File Tests Obama's Pledge 2009

If Obama more fully declassifies Helgerson's report, the new information also might undercut Cheney's claim that the harsh interrogation of "high-value" detainees produced valuable intelligence, thwarted pending terrorist plots against the United States and saved "hundreds of thousands of lives."

Secret CIA File Tests Obama's Pledge 2009

The declaration, made in response to a lawsuit filed against the CIA by the American Civil Liberties Union over the destruction of 92 interrogation videotapes, says "at the conclusion of [Helgerson's] special review in May 2004, [CIA Office of Inspector General] notified DOJ and other relevant oversight authorities of the review's findings."

CIA Watchdog Report Says Detainees Died During Interrogations 2009

There were also questions whether Helgerson's critical report prompted bureaucratic retaliation.

Secret CIA File Tests Obama's Pledge 2009

Now, thanks to the release last week of four Justice Department "torture" memos Helgerson's concerns make sense.

CIA Watchdog Report Says Detainees Died During Interrogations 2009

Both footnotes directly reference Helgerson's report and the memo, along with two others issued by Bradbury in May 2005, appears to address specific conclusions Helgerson's report raised questions about the legality of the "enhanced interrogations."

CIA Watchdog Report Says Detainees Died During Interrogations 2009

According to the Times report, Helgerson's investigation into the CIA's "enhanced interrogation" program, launched in 2003, "expressed skepticism [that] the [torture] treaty does not apply to CIA interrogations because they take place overseas on people who are not citizens of the United States."

CIA Watchdog Report Says Detainees Died During Interrogations 2009

The secret findings of CIA Inspector General John Helgerson led to eight criminal referrals to the Justice Department for homicide and other misconduct, but those cases languished as Vice President Dick Cheney is said to have intervened to constrain Helgerson's inquiries.

Holder Ponders Limited Torture Probe 2009

A similar request was also made by the agency at the start of Helgerson's probe in 2003, according to a report published in the Washington Post last October.

CIA Watchdog Report Says Detainees Died During Interrogations 2009

Helgerson also "had serious questions about the agency's mistreatment of dozens more, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed," Mayer wrote in her book, adding that there was a belief by some "insiders that [Helgerson's investigation] would end with criminal charges for abusive interrogations."

Secret CIA File Tests Obama's Pledge 2009