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Breaking: Mukasey Opens Criminal Probe into CIA Tapes' Destruction
Breaking from the AP:
The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the destruction of CIA interrogation videotapes and Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey appointed an outside prosecutor to oversee the case...."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," Mukasey said in a statement released Wednesday.
Mukasey named John Durham, a federal prosecutor in Connecticut, to oversee the case.
Durham is the deputy U.S. attorney in Connecticut, where he worked with Kevin O'Connor, who's currently the acting #3 at the department. We'll have more on him in a second.
Update: The AP doesn't have this quite right. Durham is not an "outside counsel."
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Comments (7)
Michael A wrote on January 2, 2008 2:57 PM:Wow, now this is surprising. I am shocked, shocked I tell you.
Alguien wrote on January 2, 2008 3:02 PM:By the time the criminal investigation is completed, all the "main characters" implicated in the cover-up will have disappeared mysteriously or died in suspicious circumstances, leaving only the stenographers and/or janitors to take all the blame...!
lostingeekdom wrote on January 2, 2008 3:09 PM:Who is John Durham? Does he have the potential to be another Fitz?
lostingeekdom wrote on January 2, 2008 3:10 PM:Who is John Durham? Does he have thepotential to be another Fitz? Or will he be a stooge?
jb wrote on January 2, 2008 3:18 PM:Will be interesting to see where this goes and if they are truely seriouse about it or if this is simply smoke being blown to quiet things down. Its all going to be dependent on Durham and what his political leanings.
So is this Mukasey recusing himself, again, from defining torture?
Ben wrote on January 2, 2008 3:55 PM:A very interesting thing happened as our new governor in Kentucky assumed his office. The day before Ernie Fletcher-governor-corrupt used his gubernatorial pardon powers to give blanket clemency to members of his administration who may be under investigation.
Dennis wrote on January 2, 2008 4:30 PM:That being said, prosecution of any and all crimes committed under this most corrupt of all administrations will only be handled the same way. Ubiquitous Presidential Pardons for every member of his administration that may fall under indictment in perpetuity. The only yin to that yang is that it will kill Jeb's chance for elective office forever, a price I'm sure King George is willing to pay. Te right made a big deal about Scooter's pardon in making the comparative reference to Richt. Pal, you ain't seen nothing yet!
"Look beyond that which is apparent, there's always something more."
David Galewski (late math prof. UGA)
Is this investigation for real on its own, or is there something else that will be overlooked if the public/Congress will focus on this?
As examples, who, in the White House, gave the go ahead to torture in the first place?
Who, in the White House, manipulated the intelligence to attack Iraq?
As to the just announced investigation, who has been designated as the fall guy? (Can't be Scooter Libby!).
You don't have to be a blind conservative not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.