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
May 11, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2734
Heavily redacted email referring to talking points on Iraq.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Rena Comisac | John Richter | Christopher A. Wray | Laura Parsky | David E. Nahmias | Bryan Sierra
Rena Comisac | John Richter | Christopher A. Wray | Laura Parsky | David E. Nahmias | Bryan Sierra
Rena Comisac, John Richter, Christopher A. Wray, Laura H. Parsky, David E. Nahmias, Bryan Sierra, Mark Corallo
May 06, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2735
Email forwarding Ashcroft letter to the Criminal Division for review.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Julie Samuels | Peter B. Owen
Julie Samuels | William Moschella | Sean McLaughlin | Crystal Roberts | Dave Blake | Deborah Rhodes | John Richter | Rena Comisac | David E. Nahmias | Saundra M. Callier | Nancy Scottfinan | Jennifer Mingay
Julie E. Samuels, David E. Nahmias, Peter B. Owen, William E. Moschella, Sean McLaughlin, Crystal Roberts, John Richter, Rena Comisac, Deborah J. Rhodes
May 07, 2004 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 2736
Letter seeking response regarding the contradiction between testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee and media reports regarding the investigation of abuses by contractors at Abu Ghraib.
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Patrick Leahy
John D. Ashcroft
Patrick Leahy, John D. Ashcroft, William E. Moschella
Manadel Al-Jamadi
May 04, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2737

Heavily redacted email thread re "potential torture involving Iraqi detainees".

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Laura Parsky | David E. Nahmias | Teresa L. McHenry
Laura Parsky | David E. Nahmias | John Richter | Monique Roth | Teresa L. McHenry
Laura H. Parsky, Teresa L. McHenry, David E. Nahmias, John Richter, Monique Roth
May 04, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 2738
DOD Deleted Page Information Sheet
May 06, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2739
Fax cover sheet for a letter regarding Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. The attached letter is redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Christopher A. Wray
William J. Haynes, II
William J. Haynes, II, Christopher A. Wray
May 06, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2740

Two emails that are almost fully redacted, one of which includes an attachment entitled "Iraq_Detainees-AGRefers."

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias | Monica Gooding
Christopher A. Wray | Patrick Rowan | John Richter | Mark Corallo
Monica Gooding, Mark Corallo, David E. Nahmias, Christopher A. Wray, Patrick Rowan, John Richter
May 03, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2741
The email presents an attachment containing bullets on possible prosecution of the Iraqi prison abuses and a brief outline of MEJA [Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act].
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Jerry R. DeMaio
David E. Nahmias | Barry Sabin
Jerry R. DeMaio, Barry Sabin, David E. Nahmias
June 04, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2742
Document fully redacted. Email Subjects: "Final(?) Iraq papers""Revised AG talkers on interrogation for today's meeting."
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Peter B. Owen
Patrick Rowan | David E. Nahmias | Crystal Roberts | Daniel J. Bryant | Daniel B. Levin | Jack L. Goldsmith | Patrick Philbin | Sean McLaughlin | Steven G. Bradbury | William Moschella | John Richter | Bruce Swartz | Judith S. Garrett | Angela Brown | David Blake
Peter B. Owen, Patrick Rowan, David E. Nahmias, Crystal Roberts, Daniel J. Bryant, Daniel B. Levin, Jack L. Goldsmith, Patrick Philbin, Sean McLaughlin, Steven G. Bradbury, William E. Moschella, Judith S. Garrett, Thomas R. Kane, Angela Brown, John Richter, Rena Comisac, Julie E. Samuels, Bruce Swartz, David Blake, Paul P. Colborn, Rebecca Seidel, Renee Lerner, Robert B. Parmiter, Pete Jones
Aug. 02, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2743
Emails and fax cover sheets regarding a draft OLC memo. Documents fully redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Teresa L. McHenry | Barry Sabin | Patrick Rowan | Bruce Swartz | Laura Parsky | John Richter | Christopher A. Wray | Ronnie Edelman
David E. Nahmias, Teresa L. McHenry, Barry Sabin, Patrick Rowan, Bruce Swartz, Laura H. Parsky, John Richter, Christopher A. Wray, Ronnie Edelman
CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2744
Document fully redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Teresa L. McHenry
David E. Nahmias | Laura Parsky | Barry Sabin
Teresa L. McHenry, David E. Nahmias, Laura H. Parsky, Barry Sabin
Aug. 03, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2745

Refers to informal comments on memo. All other info redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Patrick Rowan | John Richter | Daniel B. Levin | Christopher A. Wray
David E. Nahmias, Christopher A. Wray, Patrick Rowan, Daniel B. Levin, John Richter
July 30, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2746

Refers to re: OLC opinion. All other info redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Teresa L. McHenry
David E. Nahmias | Barry Sabin | Laura Parsky
Teresa L. McHenry, David E. Nahmias, Barry Sabin, Laura H. Parsky
May 11, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2747

Refers to MEJA Materials-Statute, DOJ Guidance Memos, Final Draft of DOD Regulations. States that there are 4 attachments. All other info redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
David E. Nahmias
Jack L. Goldsmith | Christopher A. Wray | Laura Parsky | Patrick Rowan
David E. Nahmias, Jack L. Goldsmith, Laura H. Parsky, Patrick Rowan, Christopher A. Wray
Apr. 28, 2004 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 2748
Contents Completely Redacted
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
James A. McAtamney | Laura Parsky | Jerry Massie | Paul Hahn | Chris Dudley | Art Roderick | Teresa L. McHenry
James A. McAtamney, David E. Nahmias, Laura H. Parsky, Patricia Massie, Teresa L. McHenry
Feb. 18, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2749
Contents Completely Redacted
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Barry Sabin | Patrick Rowan | John Malcolm | Ronnie Edelman | Teresa L. McHenry
David E. Nahmias, Barry Sabin, Teresa L. McHenry, Patrick Rowan, Ronnie Edelman, John G. Malcolm
Jan. 13, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2750
DOJ Routing and Transmittal Slip re: Counterterrorism Section - Criminal Division
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
John Malcolm | Barry Sabin | Ronnie Edelman | David E. Nahmias | Teresa L. McHenry
David E. Nahmias, Teresa L. McHenry, Barry Sabin, Ronnie Edelman, John G. Malcolm, David E. Nahmias, Teresa L. McHenry
May 24, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 2751

Handwritten note. Content: "Pulled this from Buces (?) files FYI."

Jan. 21, 2004 | OLC | ACLU-RDI 2752

Refers to Iraq matter. All content redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Jack L. Goldsmith
David E. Nahmias
Jack L. Goldsmith, David E. Nahmias
Jan. 21, 2004 | OLC | ACLU-RDI 2753

Refers to mistake of law. All other content redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Jack L. Goldsmith
David E. Nahmias
Jack L. Goldsmith, David E. Nahmias
July 08, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2754

Fax redacted. Refers to attachment revised from OLC.

Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
David E. Nahmias
Christopher A. Wray | John Richter | Bruce Swartz | Laura Parsky | Patrick Rowan | Barry Sabin | Teresa L. McHenry
David E. Nahmias, Christopher A. Wray, John Richter, Bruce Swartz, Laura H. Parsky, Patrick Rowan, Barry Sabin, Teresa L. McHenry
July 12, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 2755
Email referring to to unclassified version of Department of Justice Criminal Division comments on OLC opinion. The rest of the email contents are redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Teresa L. McHenry
Laura Parsky | David E. Nahmias | Barry Sabin | Ronnie Edelman | Michael J. Mullaney
Teresa L. McHenry, David E. Nahmias, Laura H. Parsky, Barry Sabin, Ronnie Edelman, Michael J. Mullaney
CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2756

Memorandum referring to joint comments on draft OLC memorandum; all other contents redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Legal Memo
David E. Nahmias | Laura Parsky
Barry Sabin | Teresa L. McHenry
David E. Nahmias, Laura H. Parsky, Teresa L. McHenry, Barry Sabin
July 14, 2004 | OLC | ACLU-RDI 2757
Email from Terese L. McHenry re: unclassified version of CRM comments on OLC opinion forwarded to David E. Nahmias by Jack L. Goldsmith. All other contents redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Jack L. Goldsmith
David E. Nahmias
Jack L. Goldsmith, David E. Nahmias, Teresa L. McHenry, Laura H. Parsky, Barry Sabin, Michael J. Mullaney, Ronnie Edelman
Feb. 27, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2758
Memorandum referring to "operation." Contents Completely Redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Barry Sabin
Barry Sabin
May 19, 2004 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 2759
Email referring to North Carolina case. All other contents redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Barry Sabin | David E. Nahmias
David E. Nahmias, Barry Sabin
Jan. 22, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2760

Refers to "Update." All other info redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Barry Sabin
David Nahmias | Christopher A. Wray
Barry Sabin, David E. Nahmias, Christopher A. Wray
June 09, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2761

List of people to be notified of indictment in CIA NC case.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Barry Sabin | Patrick Rowan | Christopher A. Wray
David E. Nahmias, Christopher A. Wray, Barry Sabin, Patrick Rowan, Bryan Sierra
June 10, 2004 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 2762
Contents completely redacted
June 11, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2763

This email is almost entirely redacted, but it appears to concern the "NC Case."

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Barry Sabin | Patrick Rowan | Christopher A. Wray
David E. Nahmias, Barry Sabin, Christopher A. Wray, Patrick Rowan
June 15, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2764

Refers to "Agency Issues." All other info redacted.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Patrick Rowan | Bobby Higdon | James Candelmo | Barry Sabin | Frank Whitney | Christopher A. Wray
David E. Nahmias, Patrick Rowan, Robert J. Higdon Jr., James A. Candelmo, Barry Sabin, Frank D. Whitney, Christopher A. Wray
June 11, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2765
David A. Passaro was a contractor working on behalf of CIA, indicted in relation to interrogation techniques that resulted in death of a detainee, Abdul Wali, in Afghanistan. The indictment alleges that Passaro "beat Adbul Wali, using his hands ...
Oct. 15, 2004
Judicial (Pleading)
Frank D. Whitney | James A. Candelmo | Michael P. Sullivan
David A. Passaro, Frank D. Whitney, James A. Candelmo, Michael P. Sullivan
Abdul Wali
Physical assault, General
CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2766
A timeline for DOJ criminal case, US v. Passaro.
Oct. 15, 2004
Other
David A. Passaro
Aug. 25, 2004 | FBI | ACLU-RDI 2767
Refers to "Daily." Contents Completely Redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias | Barry Sabin | Michael J. Mullaney
David E. Nahmias, Barry Sabin, Michael J. Mullaney, Patrick Rowan
July 08, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2768
Refers to Draft OLC opinion. All other info redacted.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
David E. Nahmias
Patrick Rowan | John Richter | Laura Parsky | Bruce Swartz | Christopher A. Wray
David E. Nahmias, Patrick Rowan, John Richter, Laura H. Parsky, Bruce Swartz, Christopher A. Wray
May 06, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2769
Refers to Talking Points on Iraq detainees. Mentions draft ("Iraq_Detainees-AG") with edits by Corallo and Ayres.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Monica Gooding
David E. Nahmias | John Richter | Patrick Rowan | Christopher A. Wray | Mark Corallo
Monica Gooding, David E. Nahmias, John Richter, Patrick Rowan, Christopher A. Wray, Mark Corallo, David Ayres
May 14, 2004 | CRIM | ACLU-RDI 2770
Email with an attachment called "DOJ Assistance Programs for the..." Attachment not provided.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Adam Isles
Rena Comisac | Joseph Jones | Bruce Swartz | Karl Maschino | Carl Alexandre
Karl Maschino, Adam Isles, Rena Comisac, Joseph Jones, Carl Alexandre, Bruce Swartz
June 16, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2771

Document fully redacted. Email subject: Crim Report for 6/17/2004.

Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Robert Hur
Ronnie Edelman | Monica Gooding | Stuart Levey | David E. Nahmias | Patrick Philbin | John Richter | Barry Sabin | Janet Potter | Robert McCallum | Bryan Sierra | Christopher A. Wray | Patrick Rowan | Daniel B. Levin | James B. Comey
Robert Hur, Mark Corallo, Ronnie Edelman, Monica Gooding, Stuart Levey, David E. Nahmias, Patrick Philbin, John Richter, Barry Sabin, Janet Potter, Robert McCallum, Bryan Sierra, Christopher A. Wray, Patrick Rowan, James B. Comey, Jeffrey Taylor, Chuck Rosenberg, Daniel B. Levin, Adam Isles, Laura H. Parsky, Rena Comisac, Daniel Klein
June 02, 2004 | OLC | ACLU-RDI 2772
An email distributing "AG talking points on interrogations" in anticipation of a meeting. An attachment is included but not provided with the document.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Steven G. Bradbury
Patrick Rowan | David E. Nahmias | Peter B. Owen | William Moschella | Jack L. Goldsmith | Patrick Philbin | Daniel J. Bryant | Daniel B. Levin | Crystal Roberts | Sean McLaughlin | Rena Comisac | Robert B. Parmiter | Renee Lerner | Rebecca Seidel
Steven G. Bradbury, Patrick Rowan, David E. Nahmias, Peter B. Owen, William E. Moschella, Jack L. Goldsmith, Patrick Philbin, Daniel J. Bryant, Daniel B. Levin, Crystal Roberts, Sean McLaughlin, Judith S. Garrett, Thomas R. Kane, Julie E. Samuels, Rena Comisac, Renee Lerner, Paul P. Colborn, David Blake, Rebecca Seidel, Robert B. Parmiter, Patrick Rowan
June 07, 2004 | DOJ | ACLU-RDI 2773
Emails refer to AG's Iraq follow-on briefing and talking point papers. Attached documents are referenced, but not provided.
Oct. 15, 2004
Email
Patrick Rowan
Peter B. Owen | David E. Nahmias | Crystal Roberts | Daniel J. Bryant | Daniel B. Levin | Jack L. Goldsmith | Patrick Philbin | Sean McLaughlin | William Moschella | Judith S. Garrett | John Richter | Angela Brown | Rena Comisac | David Blake | Thomas R. Kane
Patrick Rowan, Peter B. Owen, David E. Nahmias, Crystal Roberts, Daniel J. Bryant, Daniel B. Levin, Jack L. Goldsmith, Patrick Philbin, Sean McLaughlin, William E. Moschella, Thomas R. Kane, Judith S. Garrett, Bruce Swartz, Julie E. Samuels, Rena Comisac, John Richter, Angela Brown, David Blake, Paul P. Colborn, Rebecca Seidel, Renee Lerner, Robert B. Parmiter, Pete Jones
June 08, 2004 | ACLU-RDI 3595
This letter from Jacob Kellenberger of President of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) is a request that the ICRC reports on the detention facilities in Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Afghanistan be transmitted or shared with ...
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Jakob Kellnberger
Kevin Edward Moley
Kevin Edward Moley
Jan. 23, 2003 | DOS | ACLU-RDI 3677
Congressional Correspondence Tasker Form from a member of Congress to Paul V. Kelly Asst. Sec. for Legislative Affairs at the State Department requesting an image of a document (not stated).
Oct. 15, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Paul V. Kelly
Paul V. Kelly
Jan. 22, 2003 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 3678
Senator John Kerry's letter to Paul V. Kelly of the State Department, forwarding a letter sent to Sen. Kerry by Dr. Michael Grodin of the Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rights requesting an immediate investigation into allegations to ...
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
John Kerry
Paul V. Kelly
John Forbes Kerry, Paul V. Kelly
July 23, 2004 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 3679
Letter from Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) requesting Sec. State Powell Dept's release several internal Administration documents regarding the treatment of enemy prisoners and combatants.
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Colin L. Powell
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Colin L. Powell
July 23, 2004 | Legislative | ACLU-RDI 3680
Letter from Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) requesting Sec. of State Powell to have the State Department provide the Committee on Foreign Relations with copies of documents, and any other legal memoranda prepared after September 11, 2001, that interpret ...
Oct. 15, 2004
Letter
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
Colin L. Powell
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Colin L. Powell
FBI | ACLU-RDI 6141
An email by an FBI agent regarding an observation of a non-FBI approved tactic being used on a detainee at Guantanamo Bay. The FBI agent reports observing a detainee sitting on the floor of a room with an Israeli flag draped around him, loud ...
Aug. 30, 2004
Email
Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Other Humiliation, Other
Aug. 23, 2004 | DOA | ACLU-RDI 4999

This report discusses an investigation into the alleged abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib Detention Facility. The investigation was ordered initially by LTG Ricardo S. Sanchez, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force Seven (CJTF-7). LTG Sanchez ...

Aug. 25, 2004
Oversight Report, Investigative File (AR 15-6)
Ricardo Sanchez, George R. Fay, Paul J. Kern, Anthony R. Jones, Geoffrey D. Miller, Donald J. Ryder, Antonio Taguba, Barbara G. Fast, Walter Wojdakowski, Thomas G. Miller, Janis Leigh Karpinski, Thomas Pappas, Jerry Phillabaum, Ivan L. Frederick, II, Charles A. Graner, Jr., Steven L. Jordan, Carolyn A. Wood, L. Paul Bremer, Colin L. Powell, Robert P. Walters Jr, Marc Warren, Sabrina D. Harman, Romie Leslie Brownlee, Lynndie Rana England, Daniel Kazmier, Franklin D. Raab, Steven Boltz, David M. Price, L. Potter, Dennis E. Stevanus, Aldo Fierro, Varej Filhanessian, George O'Kane, Anthony Cavallaro, David O. Sutton, First Sergeant McBride, Staff Sergeant Hannifan, Staff Sergeant Cole, David W. DiNenna, Sr. , Sergeant Spiker, Darrell Jarred Plude , Joshua R. Claus, Sergeant Presnell, Sergeant Lawson, Michael D. Thompson
Use of water, Water dousing, Other, Physical assault, Walling, Sexual, General, Threat, Assault/death, Use of electricity, Stress positions, Cramped confinement, Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Isolation, Dietary manipulation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Temperature, Hooding/Goggling, Nudity, Other Humiliation, Sexual, Religious, Forced grooming, Other
May 07, 2004 | CIA-OIG | ACLU-RDI 4503

A one-paragraph excerpt from the CIA's Special Review.  The paragraph summarizes a 2002 OLC memo's analysis of the anti-torture statute.

Aug. 14, 2004
Oversight Report
John L. Helgerson
May 07, 2004 | CIA-OIG | ACLU-RDI 4504

This documents is Appendix A of the CIA's Special Review.  It describes the procedures and resources for the drafting of the Special review.

Aug. 14, 2004
Oversight Report
John L. Helgerson
George J. Tenet, John McLaughlin
CIA | ACLU-RDI 4505

Almost entirely redacted document entitled "Proposal for an enhanced interrogation strategy in the War on Terrorism." [OIG Vaughn # Other-51]

Aug. 14, 2004
Non-legal Memo
Abu Zubaydah