After September 11, 2001, U.S. officials authorized the cruel treatment and torture of prisoners held in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo, and the CIA's secret prisons overseas.

This database documents the U.S. government's official experiment with torture. At present, the database contains well over 100,000 pages of government documents obtained primarily through Freedom of Information Act litigation and requests filed by the ACLU, and through litigation of Salim v. Mitchell, a lawsuit brought by the ACLU on behalf of the survivors and the family of a dead victim of the CIA torture program. To learn more about the database, please read the About and Search Help pages. If you're a developer, you can also access this data through our API.

Search Result (6709)

RelevanceDateRelease Date
Mar. 18, 2002 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4706
This fax cover sheet is from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office - British Embassy, Washington sent by Robert Macaire to John Bellinger with the message:"I attach a copy of an internal record of the unsuccesa(ul application for judicial review of ...
June 08, 2005
Letter
Robert Macaire
John Bellinger
John B. Bellinger, III, Jonathan B. Schwartz, Pierre-Richard Prosper, Bruce Swartz
Mar. 14, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3568
Email stating that CWG had spoken with SOUTHCOM about arrangements for access to Guantanamo detainees. It states that once OSD clears the visit request, SOUTHCOM would block off a week for each group to visit.  It notes that SOUTHCOM was aware of ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Email
Gregory M. Suchan, Peter G. Schmeelk , Brent E. Blaschke
Mar. 13, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3604
In response to allegations made by non-governmental agencies, the IACHR issued to the DOS a Request for Precautionary Measures, asking that U.S. to have the legal status of Guantanamo detainees determined by a competent tribunal, and also ...
Nov. 23, 2004
Notes
Mary P. Stickles, Francis M. Gaffney, Frank E. Schmelzer
Mar. 13, 2002 | OLC | ACLU-RDI 4542

An OLC memo concluding that, “the President has plenary constitutional authority, as the commander in chief, to transfer such individuals who are held and captured outside the United States to the control of another country.” ...

Mar. 02, 2009
Legal Memo
Jay S. Bybee
William J. Haynes, II
Jay S. Bybee, William J. Haynes, II, Alberto R. Gonzales, John C. Yoo, Robert J. Delahunty, Patrick Philbin
Mar. 12, 2002 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 4170
Letter from OAS/Inter-Commission on Human Rights to Colin L. Powell requesting precautionary measures for detainees in Guantanamo. The letter states that 254 detainees were brought to Camp X-ray on or about Jan 11, 2002 from Afghanistan, Mr. ...
Dec. 30, 2004
Letter
Juan Mendez
Colin L. Powell | Roger F. Noriega
Colin L. Powell, Roger F. Noriega, Harry R. Melone
Mar. 11, 2002 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 3165
FBI Memo from Behavioral Science Consultation Team to Criminal Investigations Task Force (CITF) re: Behavioral Assessment of Security and Interview Strategies and Training at Guantanamo. Contents redacted.
Mar. 11, 2002 | Non-US | ACLU-RDI 3567
Associated Press article about Iran’s insistence that none of its citizens had been arrested in Afghanistan.
Nov. 23, 2004
Other
Condoleeza Rice
Mar. 11, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4093
Email refers to a draft press guidance that appears to concern a Washington Post article discussing the CIA's "assistance in renditions." The email seeks clearance on the press guidance. [Document not included].
Dec. 30, 2004
Email
Peter W. Mason
Michael J. Mattler | Linda Jacobson
Peter W. Mason, Michael J. Mattler, Linda Jacobson, Betty A. Bernstein-Zabza, Odell C. Dehart, Mark F. Wong, David L. Scott, Joseph W. Reap, James G. Hergen , Felix Hernandez, Anne S. Casper
Mar. 11, 2002 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 4423
Ed Cummings forwarded email regarding comments made by International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) Pres. Kellenberger at UN meeting witht he working title of his discussion entitled "How Can ICRC Fulfill its Mandate in Conflicts Today". the ...
Jan. 12, 2005
Email
Edward R. Cummings
David W. Bowker | David A. Kaye | Evan T. Bloom | JoAnn J. Dolan | William Howard Taft, IV
Edward R. Cummings, David W. Bowker, David A. Kaye, Evan T. Bloom, JoAnn J. Dolan, William Howard Taft, IV, Alan Kreczko, Arthur E. Dewey
Mar. 09, 2002 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 1212
Questions for an interrogator in preparation of his interview of a detainee who was assaulted during a helicopter transport. Detainee is unnamed and report not connected to any investigation. The memo states the purpose of the report was to ...
May 16, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Physical assault