The CIA Secret Prisons Leak

From SourceWatch
Top Republican leaders have demanded "an immediate joint House and Senate investigation into the disclosure of
classified information to The Washington Post that detailed a web of secret prisons for terrorism suspects facing
interrogation," Post reporter Jonathan Weisman wrote (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800764_pf.html) November 9, 2005.

Post reporter Dana Priest reported (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/

AR2005110101644.html) November 2, 2005, about the "hidden global internment network [which] is a central
element in the CIA's unconventional war on terrorism."

Priest reported (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101644.html) that the

CIA "has been hiding and interrogating some of its most important al Qaeda captives at a Soviet-era compound in
Eastern Europe, according to U.S. and foreign officials familiar with the arrangement."

"The secret facility," Priest wrote, "is part of a covert prison system set up by the CIA nearly four years ago that at
various times has included sites in eight countries, including Thailand, Afghanistan and several democracies in
Eastern Europe, as well as a small center at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, according to current and former
intelligence officials and diplomats from three continents."

Contents
1 Justice Department
2 Trent Lott
2.1 Related Links
3 Related SourceWatch Resources
4 External Links

Justice Department
"The CIA took the first step toward a criminal investigation of a leak of possibly classified information on secret
prisons to The Washington Post," Associated Press writer Katherine Shrader reported (http://
www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20051108-1714-congress-media.html) November 8, 2005. "The agency's
general counsel sent a report to the Justice Department about the Post story."

"The [CIA] official," Shrader wrote, "who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue deals with classified
information, said the referral was made shortly after the Nov. 2 story. ... The Justice Department will decide whether
to initiate a criminal investigation."

Trent Lott
Trent Lott
CNN reported November 8, 2005, that Senator Trent Lott "told (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/08/
prison.probe/index.html) reporters the information in the Post story was the same as that given to Republican senators
in a closed-door briefing by Vice President Dick Cheney last week."

The Raw Story reported (http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Senator_tells_CNN_he_believes_Republican_1108.html)

November 8, 2005, that Lott "said that much of the information contained in the Post report (http://
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101644.html) -- which stated that the U.S.
was holding terrorist suspects in secret CIA jails overseas -- was discussed at a meeting of Republican senators last
Tuesday."

The November 8, 2005, CNN Situation Room news report regarding the investigation and Lott's comments was
captured on video and made available online by ShadowTV.com (http://www.shadowtv.com/redirect/notification.jsp?
vid=59f35cbde254562fe18466b0d5931c8b) , Crooks and Liars (QT and WMP) (http://
www.crooksandliars.com/2005/11/08.html#a5766) ; and Think Progress (QT) (http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/08/
leak-lott/) .

However, The Hill's Alexander Bolton reported (http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/

Frontpage/111005/news4.html) November 10, 2005, that the day before, on November 9, 2005, Lott told reporters
"that he had been talking about another Post article. He said he was not talking about the article about the detention
and interrogation facilities."

Related Links
"CIA asks Justice Dept. to review prisons report. GOP leaders also ask probe of how newspaper got
information," (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/08/prison.probe/index.html) CNN, November 8, 2005. :
*"Senator tells CNN he believes Republican leaked info on CIA jails," (http://rawstory.com/news/2005/
Senator_tells_CNN_he_believes_Republican_1108.html) The Raw Story, November 8, 2005: "[the] revelation
appears to torpedo the political gambit of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and House Speaker J.
Dennis Hastert (R-IL) who called on the Senate and House intelligence committees to investigate who leaked
the information to the Post."
John Aravosis, "New 'leak' probe exploding in GOP's face," (http://americablog.blogspot.com/2005/11/new-
leak-probe-exploding-in-gops-face.html) AMERICAblog, November 8, 2005: Trent Lott "says it was likely
GOP Senators, or Cheney, who leaked it."
"Trent Lott: Keystone Cops," (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/11/08.html#a5766) Crooks and Liars,
November 8, 2005.
Nico, "VIDEO: Frist Leak Probe Backfires," (http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/08/leak-lott/) Think Progress,
November 8, 2005.
Alexander Bolton, "Bungling meant leak letter leaked," (http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/
Frontpage/111005/news4.html) The Hill, November 10, 2005.

Related SourceWatch Resources

Bush administration leaks
Extraordinary rendition
global detention system
Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base

External Links
Dana Priest, "CIA Holds Terror Suspects in Secret Prisons. Debate Is Growing Within Agency About Legality
and Morality of Overseas System Set Up After 9/11," (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/
article/2005/11/01/AR2005110101644.html) Washington Post, November 2, 2005.
Tim Naftali, "Superiority Complex. Why is the vice president deciding how the U.S. treats foreign
detainees?" (http://www.slate.com/id/2129304/) Slate, November 2, 2005.
"Officials Deflect Prison Questions," (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/02/national/
main1002943.shtml) CBS News/Associated Press, November 2, 2005.
 "Officials Deflect Prison Questions," (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/11/02/national/
main1002943.shtml) CBS News/Associated Press, November 2, 2005.
"Report: CIA has secret al-Qaida prison," (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2005/11/02/
cia_may_have_secret_prison_for_al_qaida?mode=PF) Associated Press (Boston Globe), November 2, 2005.
Joanne Allen, "CIA uses secret prisons abroad - report," (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?
type=topNews&storyID=2005-11-02T184029Z_01_YUE250298_RTRUKOC_0_UK-SECURITY-
PRISONS.xml&archived=False) Reuters, November 2, 2005.
Meteor Blades, "Secret Prisons in Secret Places," (http://thenexthurrah.typepad.com/the_next_hurrah/2005/11/
secret_prisons_.html) The Next Hurrah, November 2, 2005.
Payson, "Administration’s Secret Prison System Violates Law," (http://thinkprogress.org/2005/11/02/secret-
prison-system) Think Progress, November 2, 2005.
"Ex US president Carter roasts Bush over secret prison claims," (http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?
id=77587) Agence France Presse (TurkishPress.com), November 2, 2005.
"Europeans To Probe Report Of Covert CIA Detention Centers," (http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=leak%2C
+CIA%2C+secret+prisons&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&fr=FP-tab-web-t&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8) Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty, November 3, 2005.
Robert Raffaele, "Report of Secret Prisons Stirs International Reaction," (http://search.yahoo.com/search?
p=leak%2C+CIA%2C+secret+prisons&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&fr=FP-tab-web-t&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8)
Voice of America, November 3, 2005.
"Editorial: U.S. must dismantle its secret CIA gulag," (http://www.startribune.com/dynamic/mobile_story.php?
story=5707366) Star Tribune, November 4, 2005.
Valentinas Mite, "Eastern Europe: EU, Rights Groups To Investigate Reports Of Secret CIA Prisons," (http://
search.yahoo.com/search?p=leak%2C+CIA%2C+secret+prisons&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&fr=FP-tab-web-
t&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, November 4, 2005.
Larry Johnson, "Secret CIA Prisons: Preemptive Strike or Surprise Attack?" (http://search.yahoo.com/search?
p=leak%2C+CIA%2C+secret+prisons&sm=Yahoo%21+Search&fr=FP-tab-web-t&toggle=1&cop=&ei=UTF-8)
TPM Cafe, November 4, 2005.
Michael A. Fletcher, "Bush Defends CIA's Clandestine Prisons. 'We Do Not Torture,' President Says," (http://
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/07/AR2005110700637.html?nav=hcmodule)
Washington Post, November 8, 2005.
Jonathan Weisman, "Frist, Hastert Demand Probe of Prison Leak," (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800764.html?nav=hcmodule) Washington Post, November 8, 2005.
David Stout, "G.O.P. Leaders Seek Inquiry on Leaks of Government Secrets," (http://
www.nytimes.com/2005/11/08/politics/08cnd-leak.html?
hp&ex=1131512400&en=f30d7f0b550b4ed8&ei=5094&partner=homepage) New York Times, November 8,
2005.
"CIA begins probe into leak on secret prisons. Washington Post reported U.S. detention centers abroad," (http://
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9967403) Associated Press (MSNBC), November 8, 2005.
Jonathan Weisman, "GOP Leaders Urge Probe in Prisons Leak," (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800764_pf.html) Washington Post, November 9, 2005.
Katherine Shrader and Pete Yost, "CIA eyes secret-prisons leak. Congressional leaders angry at disclosure of
secret interrogation sites," (http://www.thestate.com/mld/charlotte/news/13118412.htm?
source=rss&channel=charlotte_news) Associated Press (Charlotte Observer), November 9, 2005.
Alexander Bolton, "Bungling meant leak letter leaked," (http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/
Frontpage/111005/news4.html) The Hill, November 10, 2005.
"Frist concerned more about leaks than secret prisons," (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/10/
frist.secretprisons.ap/index.html) Associated Press (CNN), November 10, 2005: "Senate Majority Leader Bill
Frist says he is more concerned about the leak of information regarding secret CIA detention centers than
activity in the prisons themselves."

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Categories: Extraordinary rendition | Prison | Scandals | Secrecy | War crimes | War/peace | Civil liberties (U.S.) |
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