WASHINGTON, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a
statement by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey regarding the opening of
an investigation into the destruction of videotapes by CIA personnel:
"Following a preliminary inquiry into the destruction by CIA personnel
of videotapes of detainee interrogations, the Department's National
Security Division has recommended, and I have concluded, that there is a
basis for initiating a criminal investigation of this matter, and I have
taken steps to begin that investigation as outlined below.
"This preliminary inquiry was conducted jointly by the Department's
National Security Division and the CIA's Office of Inspector General. It
was opened on December 8, 2007, following disclosure by CIA Director
Michael Hayden on December 6, 2007, that the tapes had been destroyed. A
preliminary inquiry is a procedure the Department of Justice uses regularly
to gather the initial facts needed to determine whether there is sufficient
predication to warrant a criminal investigation of a potential felony or
misdemeanor violation. The opening of an investigation does not mean that
criminal charges will necessarily follow.
"An investigation of this kind, relating to the CIA, would ordinarily
be conducted under the supervision of the United States Attorney for the
Eastern District of Virginia, the District in which the CIA headquarters
are located. However, in an abundance of caution and on the request of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, in accordance
with Department of Justice policy, his office has been recused from the
investigation of this matter, in order to avoid any possible appearance of
a conflict with other matters handled by that office.
"As a result, I have asked John Durham, the First Assistant United
States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of
Connecticut, to serve as Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern
District of Virginia for purposes of this matter. Mr. Durham is a widely
respected and experienced career prosecutor who has supervised a wide range
of complex investigations in the past, and I am grateful to him for his
willingness to serve in this capacity. As the Acting United States Attorney
for purposes of this investigation, Mr. Durham will report to the Deputy
Attorney General, as do all United States Attorneys in the ordinary course.
I have also directed the FBI to conduct the investigation under Mr.
Durham's supervision.
"Earlier today, the Department provided notice of these developments to
Director Hayden and the leadership of the Judiciary and Intelligence
Committees of the Congress."
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.USDOJ.gov
CONTACT:
Department of Justice Office of Public
Affairs, +1-202-514-2007
|
