CIA Destroyed Tapes As Judge Sought Interrogation Data

The New York Times reports this morning that according to recently declassified documents, the federal judge overseeing the case of Abu Zubayday was still seeking CIA tapes of his interrogation even as the government had the recordings destroyed:

At the time that the Central Intelligence Agency destroyed videotapes of the interrogations of operatives of Al Qaeda, a federal judge was still seeking information from Bush administration lawyers about the interrogation of one of those operatives, Abu Zubaydah, according to court documents made public on Wednesday.

The court documents, filed in the case of Zacarias Moussaoui, appear to contradict a statement last December by Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the C.I.A. director, that when the tapes were destroyed in November 2005 they had no relevance to any court proceeding, including Mr. Moussaoui's criminal trial.

Read the article here.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press is reporting that the prosecutor of Zacarias Moussaoui was aware that tapes of the interrogation had been destroyed almost year before the information was made public. The Justice Department informed him of the destruction even as he sought the death penalty for Moussaoui.

The lead prosecutor in the terror case against Zacarias Moussaoui may have known the CIA destroyed tapes of its interrogations of an al-Qaida suspect more than a year before the government acknowledged it to the court, newly unsealed documents indicate.

The documents, which were declassified and released Wednesday by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, detail efforts by Moussaoui's attorneys to send the case back to a lower federal court to find out whether the tapes should have been disclosed and whether they would have influenced his decision to plead guilty.

Read the article here.

Comments

[research]

Pelosi: you want to prevent a war with Iran?

Impeach before they KILL AGAIN!

[scrzbill]

I have an idea. Gonzales made waterboarding legal with some twisted logic and now the current AG says its is legal because Gonzales said it was legal. From now on I suggest Mukasey make murder legal and let the killing begin. I am so angry with what they have done. It is out of hand how blatantly this administration has literally torn apart the constitution to fit their agenda. Sanctity of life. Save Americans from the terrorist. And in the meantime they have destroyed the government by withholding funds for any programs that don't fit their goals. What kills me is these so called christians who are supposed to be against killing, against suffering of the poor, weak, and ederly are actually working against what they are supposed to represent. What they have become are a bunch of greedy, biased, bigoted, christofascist. Hell elect McCain and in four more years there will be nothing for social security, nothing for medicare, nothing for veterans benefits and we will have the biggest military industrial complex the world has ever seen. A hundred years in Iraq and nothing for our country. Don't worry about immigration because in a few more years of a government like we have had it won't be worth it to sneak across the border. Am I the only one mad about this? Who have you contacted? Who have you written or called? Do it!

[brently]

None of this will end without the exposure of 9/11 truth. If you aren't on our team yet, you are only stalling the healing of the country.

[JGatsby]

If by 9/11 Truth you mean that the Bush administration had many warnings that something was going to happen and that just as they have in every other area they displayed massive, criminal incompetence by ignoring the threat I completely agree. If by 9/11 truth you mean buildings being brought down by controlled demolition and people being magically disapeared off of planes I believe you are wrong. I've read many of the books that lay out the controlled demolition and other conspiracies and in my opinion there is nothing there but supposition and slander of anyone that disagrees with them. As long as many people on the extreme left continue to waste their energy on this they do a dis-service to the left and make it more difficult to get average people to see how the Republicans have completely screwed over this country and the whole world.

[Collielady]

This is an example of why the world hates us. It's not because of our freedoms, or our lifestyle. It's because of our corrupt government and blatant contempt for truth and decency.

Terrorism cannot destroy this nation. We are rotting from within.

Bush and the neocons overreacted after 9/ll, doing everything to nullify our constitution and unseat our democracy. We have no rule of law.

Osama bin Laden can just sit back now and watch us self-destruct. Jihad accomplished.

[incontempt]

They won't release sensitive information to weaken US security..unless it suits their personal needs!!! Then it is a crime at that point, a crime with motive.

[winoohno]

The important fact about the interrogation of Zubaydah was that he named 3 high-ranking Saudis of having advanced knowledge of 9/11. All 3 were later killed/died by mysterious circumstances. Also, one of the Saudi's son was in Tampa on 9/13/01 and was secretly flown (during a ban on all commercial airline traffic) to Kentucky and then out of the country. This interrogation tape was so incriminating that it had to be destroyed. Now let's just sit back and watch the government keep lying...

[RadicalWhig]

That's not a fact, it's speculation. This story is further evidence of no evidence. As such, and only as such, it is very significant.

[Ihaveadream]

It's not speculation. Here is the link to Judicial Watch's investigation with all the documents and releases, some ordered by a Federal Judge:

http:/http://www.judicialwatch.org/September_11_2006_SaudiFlight.shtml

[speakingtruth2power]

One important question to be asking ourselves is which Presidential candidate still left is least likely to pardon all these fascist conspirators. Will any defend the rule of law?

Will any of those left running actually instruct their new Atty Gen to go after these traitors and war criminals? Obama, not likely, Hillary far less likely and McCain, NOT!!!

[bigdaddyvike]

Treason. Obstruction of Justice. So nothing will come of it. Pardons all around.

[rbspickles]

Isn't it sickening? The corruption and total disregard for laws and the constitution is clearly out in the open for all to see and yet, Congress does NOTHING! It disgusts me and I'm tired of paying their damn bills for it. FIRE THEM ALL THIS TIME! Get all new blood in Washington. Anyone that's been there more that 1 term MUST GO! Republican and Democrat alike. We need to stop letting the MSM and the elite decide who's in there supposedly working for us. They're not but we CAN change that.

[wndrwrthg]

I would assume that pardons have already been issued, and are waiting for the proper moment to be revealed. Remember poppy bush and his pardons of the Iran-Contra conspiritors BEFORE any indictments were handed down. The bush legacy "cover your ass, and damn the constitution".

[Gary47]

Arrest the bastards, try them all for treason and lock them away for a long time. These people are not patriots. They are treasonous goons defiling our constitution. The love war and hate, and think they can hide behind "patriotism" while they practice their evil deeds.

[Ramirez]

Obama should immediately pledge that if elected he would immediately pardon Zacarias Moussaoui due to the harsh and unfair treatment he received at the hands of the CIA.

This bold statement would move armies of compassionate Democrats into his camp.

[PierreLeClerke]

Ramirez, We the People insist that all unlawful acts be subject to the Law. That includes conspirators the likes of Moussaoui, Bin Ladden, Bush Chaney and Rove. All are guilty of terrorism , all have conspired to do violence on a massive scale. How do you justify the the clear actions of some and condemn the the acts of others.
Is motive your criteria? Perhaps the profit motive justifies the greater acts of terrorism in your eyes. Please feel free to enlighten us. I would love to know what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night.

[angelbravo]

Sounds like you just want a reason to murder your fellow Americans to me

[PierreLeClerke]

Angelbravo, I don't believe murder is something
that can be justified. I believe murderers and those who conspire to commit mass murder, should
spend their life in prison doing hard time. Death is an easy short escape from responsibility. What
do you believe in?

[tbone57]

Clown. Not a chance. Sarcasm is lost on me...

[MsLiz]

This boneheaded statement would ensure the end of his career. Better that he should pledge to find out the truth of what happened, to prosecute any government officials guilty of malfeasance, and to give Moussaoui justice.

[Cybesq]

Hey, I have an idea. When Obama pardons Moussaoui, they should put him and Libby together for next season's Survivor: Carlyle Group Island.

Contestants will get immunity for telling the biggest Bush administration lies. The Rove tribe will win points for smashing Piggy's glasses.

This bold program will move armies of shit for brains Republicans to watch something other than Fox News for an hour.

[PierreLeClerke]

Now that one more tip of the iceberg is in your face America, only having been disclosed because it was coming out of the horse faster than they could pack it back. Now that the weight of the record is so overwhelming, it is clear that not one word uttered by this crew resembles truth in any form.
Who now among us is still so nieve as to believe that the NSA spy program that is gleaming data from every spec of communications from all of us, is for anything other than commercial gain and political leverage. Will you continue to fool yourselves America. This domestic spy program was established prior to 9/11. That record is clear.
Lets pick a date with destiny America. Should our elected Constitutional officers fail to act
in accordance with their sworn duty to uphold
Our Constitution, Not later than April 1st 2008, Than we call on all Patriotic Americans to March on Washington D.C. and direct the Federal Law enforcement community to take into custody pending trail, all persons in the present administration and to Declare a Constitutional Convention on The True Patriots Day, April 19th 2008.
For the purpose of Re-affirmation of the basic tenants of the Constitution of these United States and the Bill of Rights as written, and to further declare that this Nation, Our Nation, rejects the use of Torture on any Human Being. Further We the People will nullify the authority of all members of the Presently sitting Senate and U.S. Congress and establish a Date Certain for New Elections. "OPERATION RESTORE TRUST" is coming. There will be no more
extensions granted. Do the Job you are swore to do, or We the People will remove you from your well feathered seats and accomplish the
difficult task at hand.

[neetsie37]

I couldn't agree more !!!

But please use your spell check.
("naive," not "nieve" --- "tenet," not "tenant"

[knowhelpnow]

I'm with you lets march.

If you understand what is being said let us not get technical. You spell checker isn't going to tell you the difference between tenet or tenant.

[PierreLeClerke]

OPERATION RESTORE TRUST DETAILS TO BE POSTED

Now is the time for all good Patriots to come to the aid of their Nation!

[Utopia]

Excellent idea, and a bit more fuel to the fire here. Out of all this domestic spying, how many terrorist cases have been brought before the court? If your answer is none you are right. As a follow up question, under the domestic spying how many criminal cases have been brought forth (i.e. prostitution, gambling, drugs)? Over 20 was the last count I heard. In fact under the Patriot act provisions a Las Vegas strip club was the first case brought for prosecution where the provisions outlined in the Patriot Act were used for evidence gathering.

And you thought it was to protect us from terrorist?

[fourex]

It appears that Mr. Hayden has lied again. Well maybe not, remember as NSA head he infamously got the 4th amendment wrong.

"The court documents, filed in the case of Zacarias Moussaoui, appear to contradict a statement last December by Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the C.I.A. director, that when the tapes were destroyed in November 2005 they had no relevance to any court proceeding, including Mr. Moussaoui's criminal trial."

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Watched "V for Vendetta" again last night.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/

Are we approaching a day when we too must cue up the "1812 Overture" -- and forment a revolution?

If you haven't yet, do read Larisa Alexandrovna's post today re the secret prison WITHIN Gitmo, and becoming a fascist nation:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larisa-alexandrovna/the-tesseract-archipelago_b_85482.html

[Not Blind]

Well, I had mentioned the crimes of this administration previously: PERJURY (935 lies that got us into Iraq); TORTURE (Abu Ghraib and waterboarding); UNCONSTITUTIONAL searches (illegal warrantless wiretapping); TREASON (outing a government agent); OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE (destroying evidence); CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY (illegal, indefinite detentions in secret off-shore locations) and a host of others.
The MSM has been virtually silent about all of these, scaresly giving a mention. Had the MSM in the past 7 years given a fraction of the scrutiny to Bush-Cheney that they did to Clinton, there would have been an outraged public, elected representatives in Congress doing their job and conducting investigations and impeachment hearings, and we'd be far better off. Clinton got a blow job from one gal, while Bush has been sodomizing this nation, its citizens and the world!

[speakingtruth2power]

Presidential Directive 51, various signing statements and cowardly, unpatriotic

legislation by Congress, like the Patriot Act, all give Bush the power he needs

to suspend elections and declare Martial Law at any time HE DECIDES TO!!!!

There would have to be an excuse, like another 9-11 but that could be arranged.

[glesslib]

I hate conspiracy theories, but you just made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
Gee, thanks.