Statement by Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey Regarding the Opening of an Investigation Into the Destruction of Videotapes by CIA Personnel

The following is from The Department of Justice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2008

WWW.USDOJ.GOV
OPA(202) 514-2007

TDD (202) 514-1888

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.”

President Bush Delivers Statement On Darfur

President George W. Bush delivers a statement on Darfur Tuesday, May 29, 2007, in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House. Said the President, “The people of Darfur are crying out for help... I urge the United Nations Security Council, the African Union, and all members of the international community to reject any efforts to obstruct implementation of the agreements that would bring peace to Darfur and Sudan.”
Read the transcript HERE

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White House photo by David Bohrer

Republican Leader John Boehner Statement on Democratic Plans to Ration Funding for America’s Troops

Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on reports that Democrats may attempt to ration funds for American troops in harm’s way:

“Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid should not treat our men and women in uniform like they are children who are getting a monthly allowance. Republicans will not support rationing funds for our troops in harm’s way and neither will the American people. This is just the latest version of the ‘slow-bleed’ strategy Democrats began months ago to choke off funding for our men and women in uniform.

“Democratic leaders like Steny Hoyer, Harry Reid, and Carl Levin have all said they oppose this approach. Each day that passes without a clean troop funding bill puts our soldiers in greater danger and weakens their ability to fight al Qaeda. It is past time for Democrats to put forth a clean bill that fully-funds American troops without putting handcuffs on our generals or attaching billions in excessive spending that is nothing more than an insult to our men and women in uniform.”

CongressDaily PM reported yesterday afternoon that key Senate Democrats continue to oppose short-term rationing schemes, specifically reporting: “A House-backed plan to send President Bush a supplemental spending bill to fund the war only through July is not likely to get through the Senate, an aide to Senate Majority Leader Reid said today. ‘It’s not anything that will fly in the Senate,’ spokesman Jim Manley said.”

(File photo and above news article from, RepublicanLeader.House.gov website)