Thread: 'At least six identifiable crimes' possible in CIA tape affair

Constitutional scholar: 'At least six identifiable crimes' possible in CIA tape affair

12/19/2007 @ 7:58 am

Filed by David Edwards and Jason Rhyne

White House involvement in the CIA's decision to destroy videotapes documenting severe interrogation techniques of suspected terrorists could constitute as many as six crimes, according to constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley.

Turley appeared on CNN to discuss a new report from the New York Times, which indicates that four White House attorneys, including then-White House counsels Alberto Gonzales and Harriet Miers, participated in discussions with the CIA about whether or not the tapes should be destroyed. The talks also reportedly included David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney's former counsel and current chief of staff; and former senior National Security Council lawyer John Bellinger.

"Just when you think this scandal can't get worse, it does," the George Washington University Law School professor told CNN's John Roberts. "I mean, this is a very significant development because it shows that this was not just some rogue operator at the CIA that destroyed evidence being sought by Congress and the courts. It shows that this was a planned destruction, that there were meetings, and those meetings extended all the way to the White House."

Turley went on to say that the high-level discussions, particularly those involving Miers and Gonzales, were "a hair's breath away from the president himself."

Asked whether "through inference" the talks might have extended to the Oval Office, Turley suggested the possibility existed.

"I think it's more than an inference at this point, which is one of the reasons there's a call for a special prosecutor," he said. "There are at least six identifiable crimes here, from obstruction of justice to obstruction of Congress, perjury, conspiracy, false statements, and what is often forgotten: the crime of torturing suspects.

Added Turley, "If that crime was committed it was a crime that would conceivably be ordered by the president himself, only the president can order those types of special treatments or interrogation techniques."
The Times reports that a former senior intelligence official told the paper that there was a "'vigorous sentiment' among some top White House officials to destroy the tapes." Other officials said that there was no White House push for their destruction.

US District Judge Henry Kennedy, who in 2005 ordered that the US preserve "all evidence and information" regarding torture and other abuses, has scheduled a Friday hearing to investigate the destruction of the tapes.
"Judge Kennedy is obviously not taking the advice of the Justice Department, that told him not to interfere," Turley said of the upcoming hearing. "Courts don't understand when the government destroys evidence -- particularly evidence that was sought by Congress and other courts. So it's not going to be a good day for the Justice Department."

This video is from CNN's American Morning, broadcast on December 19, 2007.

Link to video and source found at
The Raw Story | Constitutional scholar: 'At least six identifiable crimes' possible in CIA tape affair

Oh, come on where are the bushbots?

Turley appeared on CNN to discuss a new report from the New York Times, which indicates that four White House attorneys, including then-White House counsels Alberto Gonzales and Harriet Miers, participated in discussions with the CIA about whether or not the tapes should be destroyed. The talks also reportedly included David Addington, Vice President Dick Cheney's former counsel and current chief of staff; and former senior National Security Council lawyer John Bellinger.

what did these conversations entail, do you know?

Originally Posted by badkarma

what did these conversations entail, do you know?

The conversations with the lawyers and between the lawyers?

My understanding is they discussed what to do with the tapes as well as this administrations policy relative to detainee treatment/abuse/torture.

WASHINGTON — At least four top White House lawyers took part in discussions with the Central Intelligence Agency between 2003 and 2005 about whether to destroy videotapes showing the secret interrogations of two operatives from Al Qaeda, according to current and former administration and intelligence officials.

The accounts indicate that the involvement of White House officials in the discussions before the destruction of the tapes in November 2005 was more extensive than Bush administration officials have acknowledged.

Bush Lawyers Discussed Fate of C.I.A.Tapes - New York Times

While Bush administration officials have acknowledged some discussions leading up to the destruction of the tapes in November 2005, as the article noted, the White House itself has not officially said anything on the subject, so its role was not “wider than it said.” (A related article appears today on Page A6.)

Great. We'll add these 6 crimes to the list. I'm sure something will be done about all of them.

Originally Posted by Vortex

The conversations with the lawyers and between the lawyers?

My understanding is they discussed what to do with the tapes as well as this administrations policy relative to detainee treatment/abuse/torture.

Bush Lawyers Discussed Fate of C.I.A.Tapes - New York Times

so we dont actually know what was said at those meeting then? this is all assumption that these people told the CIA to destroy the tapes?

This is rediculous!! Nobody knows what was in the tapes, nobody knows who okayed the destruction of the tapes, & even the NYT printed a correction about what the WH was supposed to have done & known & said.
This is a story looking for a topic.

Merry Christmas

I don't agree with the rush to judgement under the aegis of, "It's the evil Bush empire so they must be guilty."

I am very pleased to see that a federal judge has called for a criminal inquiry. Willful destruction of evidence is a very serious offense.

Originally Posted by Bourne

I don't agree with the rush to judgement under the aegis of, "It's the evil Bush empire so they must be guilty."

I am very pleased to see that a federal judge has called for a criminal inquiry. Willful destruction of evidence is a very serious offense.

I agree, there should be an investigation, I just think we should wait until the investigation is over before we send the Bush admin to the gas chambers.

Originally Posted by Migi e!

This is rediculous!! Nobody knows what was in the tapes, nobody knows who okayed the destruction of the tapes, & even the NYT printed a correction about what the WH was supposed to have done & known & said.
This is a story looking for a topic.

Merry Christmas

right, which is nothing like the thread about the hillary quote of when she was in 5th grade or the thread about gore making a speech 15 years ago thats supposed to prove something but no one has said what exactly or the entire thread about al gores luggage and how apparently that means global warming is a lie.

THOSE were legitimate topics of discussion.

but destroyed tapes possibly containing footage of the US goverment using torture, right when whether we use torture or not is a hot topic...thats just silly tabloid stuff, right?