Houston Democrats

The following is an example of one unredacted e-mail:

DETAINEES-2799B

Electronic Communication (from CTD to Arthur Cummings) concerning alleged impersonation of FBI Agents at GTMO

11/25/03

Same document as DETAINEES-2799 with the following unredacted: "Document information concerning impersonation by DOD interrogators at Guantanamo representing themselves to be officials of the FBI and U.S. State Department." (Emphasis added)

And another e-mail:

DETAINEES-2797B

E-mail (from CTD employee to Frankie Battle) noting that sender is forwarding this EC up the chain of command, concerning alleged impersonation of FBI Agents at GTMO

12/05/03

Same document as Detainee-2797 with the following unredacted: "Of concern, DOD interrogators impersonating Supervisory Special Agents of the FBI told a detainee that the FBI..." and "These tactics have produced no intelligence of a threat neutralization nature to date and CITF believes that techniques have destroyed any chance of prosecuting this detainee." and "If this detainee is ever released or his story made public in any way, DOD interrogators will not be held accountable because these torture techniques were done (by) the "FBI" interrogators. The FBI will (be) left holding the bag before the public." (Emphasis added)

Here's an e-mail suggesting making an arrest:

DETAINEES-3831B

Emails, from REDACTED to REDACTED, Re Impersonating FBI.

01/20/04

Same document as DETAINEES-3831 with the following unredacted: "about finally making an arrest down there."

And another suggesting officers are taking kickbacks:

DETAINEES-1685B

Email string btwn Valerie Caproni and Michael Mason re: Referrals

05/12/04

Same document as DETAINEES-1685 with "of military officers taking kickbacks" unredacted.

The ACLU released the FOIA documents in conjunction with a legal action it filed in New York in which the ACLU argues the DOD and the CIA are withholding photographs and documents regarding prisoner torture. Other FOIA documents released are available on the ACLU's website.

The following is the ACLU's press release about the new FOIA documents:

Defense Department Personnel Impersonated State Department Officials in Guantánamo Interrogations, FBI Documents Show

May 26, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@aclu.org

Defense Department And CIA Are Unlawfully Withholding Photographs and Documents Concerning Torture Of Prisoners, ACLU Argues in Court Today

NEW YORK -- Documents released by the FBI state that Defense Department personnel impersonated State Department officials in interrogations at Guantánamo Bay, the American Civil Liberties Union said today.

"Defense Department interrogators, possibly on instructions from high-level officials, went to great lengths to avoid being held accountable for the use of unlawful interrogation methods," said Jameel Jaffer, a staff attorney with the ACLU. "Apparently Defense Department personnel were willing to use torture but they wanted others to be held responsible for it."

In December 2004, the FBI released documents stating that Defense Department interrogators impersonated FBI agents in order to avoid being held responsible for the use of "torture techniques." The new documents provide the first indication that Defense Department interrogators impersonated State Department officials as well.

Continue reading the ACLU press release.