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
This documenis an academic paper presented by Philip B. Heyman of Harvard University.
Department of Justice Office of Legal Council on Standards of Conduct for Interrogation under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2340-2340A. This memo superceding the August 2002 memo interpreting the anti-torture statute. The memo disagrees with the previous memo's ...
June 01, 2005
Legal Memo
Daniel B. Levin
James B. Comey
Daniel B. Levin, James B. Comey, George W. Bush

A memo from Secretary Rumsfeld approving a set of interrogation techniques, including some that it admits may be "inconsistent with" provisions of the Geneva Conventions.  The techniques include "Pride and Ego Down," ...

This manual describes in detail interrogation techniques such as rapport-building, fear-up and fear-down, pride and ego, and file and dossier.

June 01, 2005
Non-legal Memo
William J. Haynes, II

A letter from President Bush describing progress against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan and work with other countries.

June 01, 2005
Letter
George W. Bush
John Dennis Hastert | Robert C. Byrd
John Dennis Hastert, Robert C. Byrd
Department of Defense memo rescinding approval of the use of all Category II techniques and one Category III technique during investigations that were previously approved on December 2, 2002. Attaches memo from Jim Haynes, General Counsel of the ...
June 01, 2005
Non-legal Memo
Donald H. Rumsfeld
James T. Hill
Donald H. Rumsfeld, William J. Haynes, II, James T. Hill

Presidential order authorizing detention of individuals and trial by military commission. From http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/11/20011113-27.html.

June 01, 2005
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
This White House memo describes U.S. policy toward detainees at Guantanamo.  States that they are not entitled to POW treatment but that they are treated humanely and given many of the protections that POWs are given.

June 01, 2005
Non-legal Memo
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
Handwritten note. The name Dave Nahmias, DOJ is readable. Also, the Pentagon is mentioned. Contents Completely Redacted.
Feb. 06, 2006
Notes
David E. Nahmias
David E. Nahmias
Email contents are redacted.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Valerie E. Caproni
Valerie E. Caproni
The document's synopsis reads: "To document information concerning the impersonation by DOD interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba who represented themselves as officials of the FBI and US State Department." Contents redacted.
Email discusses the non-uniform interview techniques of the military and law enforcement officials. States that the CITF are formulating a policy for their agents. The email states "Looks we are stuck in the mud with the interview approach of the ...
Entire contents redacted.
Email provides logistics concerning an upcoming workshop on techniques for FBI Officials on dealing with Muslim extemists. [E-mail from [Redacted] to Lamefford and [Redacted]]
Email updates recipient of the current environment in Guantanamo, during the author's assignment there, he/she has observed approximately twelve interrogations. He/she observed or learned of the following techniques being used by the Department ...
The document's synopsis reads: "To document information concerning the impersonation by DOD interrogators at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba who represented themselves as officials of the FBI in conjunction with interrogation techniques not endorsed by the ...
The email asks for additional information concerning a report that DHS interrogators would await the departure of FBI officials and embark here are several examples in which DHS personnel have awaited the departure of an FBI supervisor before ...
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Valerie E. Caproni
Marion E. Bowman | Frankie Battle
Marion E. Bowman, Frankie Battle, Valerie E. Caproni
Email between FBI officials discussing alleged DoD abuse. Email refers to Donald Rumsfeld's public statements, where he stated the DoD was against hooding, threats of violence and humiliation. The author follows that: "I know these techniques ...
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Donald H. Rumsfeld, Thomas J. Harrington, Paul Wolfowitz

Memo is an FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) report of DOD interrogation tactics used in Guantanamo. BAU reported witnessing the following techniques being used: duct tape to a detainee's mouth, growling dogs, bright lights, loud music, and ...

Feb. 06, 2006
Non-legal Memo
Stephen R. Wiley
Use of phobias, Sleep deprivation, Environmental manipulation, Light or sound, Other
Email updates recipient of the current environment in Guantanamo, during the author's assignment there, he/she has observed approximately twelve interrogations. He/she observed or learned of the following techniques being used by the Defense ...
FBI list of documents received from SA [redacted]. Contents redacted.
Memo synopsis indicates that the memo discusses the CIRG/BAU's assessment of the interview process in GTMO. Also, it reads that the has a "Copy of a Letterhead Memorandum (LHM), suitable for dissemination to outside agencies" enclosed.
Memo discusses a need to travel to an unknown part of Iraq in order to interview unknown individual(s). Contents redacted.
Email discusses detainee abuse investigation and an earlier phone conversation, where information concerning an unidentified detainee detention facility was discussed. Contents mostly redacted.
Emails discuss the submission of documents detailing specific information concerning [redacted]. One email reads " this is what started the whole thing." The emails include a sworn statement. Contents redacted.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email, Interview
Toni M. Fogle
Toni M. Fogle
This is an FBI Case Notes report. The agent who compiled the notes titled it: Afghanistan Torture Case, with the following entry legible " In a case referred to DOJ by Army CID [redacted] contract interpreter who may or may not be a U.S. Citizen, ...
Feb. 06, 2006
Notes
Alex J. Turner, Robert A. Spencer
Emails are redacted, but some discuss the establishment of a joint investigative strategy.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Charles J. Cunningham
Charles J. Cunningham
FBI Memo states that the FBI HQ received a phone call from an individual advising the Unit Chief that he had returned to the U.S. and the caller was under the impression that he may be wanted by the FBI for questioning. The memo is otherwise ...
Entire contents redacted.
Entire contents redacted, except paragraph headings.
Routing and Transmission Slipr from James A. McAtamney. In the header it reads a memo re: transfer of GTMO
Feb. 06, 2006
Letter
James A. McAtamney
James A. McAtamney
Emails discuss recommended changes J. Stephen Tidwell has made to Valerie E. Caproni's document. Tidwell also mentions that he has concerns over GTMO issues in general.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
J. Stephen Tidwell
Valerie E. Caproni
Valerie E. Caproni, J. Stephen Tidwell, Marion E. Bowman, Janice K. Fedarcyk
Contents Completely Redacted
Entire contents redacted. except "for "Very truly yours, Valerie Caproni, General Counsel."
Feb. 06, 2006
Letter
Valerie E. Caproni
Valerie E. Caproni
Handwritten note indicating a document(s) is attached. Contents redacted.
Feb. 06, 2006
Notes
Valerie E. Caproni
Valerie E. Caproni
Emails discuss "Iraq guidance" and meeting with the new deputy of OSD/OGC.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Valerie E. Caproni
Marion E. Bowman
Valerie E. Caproni, Marion E. Bowman
Email states "Mr Harrington - FBI-GTMO reviewed the MM and HQ control files this morning. The only document we found that is pertinent to the issues under review is the 5130103 EC, dratted by SSA [redacted] of the Behavioral Assessment Units ...
Emails discussed possible abuse in Abu Grarib prison. M.C. Briese stated he did not witness any mistreatment, however, stated Abu Graib was understaffed. Also, referred Caproni to CJIS and HRT management, explaining those offices spent a great ...
Email discussing the debriefing of redacted. Entire contents redacted, except the heading of the paragraphs.
Contents Completely Redacted
Emails are redacted, unredacted language discusses testimony from Steve Cambone where he discusses forced dis-robing of Guantanamo detainees.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Valerie E. Caproni | John F. Curran
Stephen A. Cambone, Valerie E. Caproni, John F. Curran
This memo is from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Units (BAU) discussing how the interrogation of suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects was proceeding. The memo states "several discussions were held to determine the most effective means of ...
Document discusses Islamic traditions and beliefs, providing detailed background information on the religion. The apparent purpose of the document is to provide interrogators with information they can use in yielding information from detainees.
The email is un-redacted and reads: "Attached is a document that describes in detail the recently enacted GTMO rewards program. I think it is a positive step in the management of detainees, but in terms of inspiring them to cooperate, it falls ...
Email discusses a need the author had to discuss interview tactics with Frankie Battle. It is also an issue the author wanted to discuss with SAC Wiley.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Frankie Battle
Stephen R. Wiley, Frankie Battle
Email from FBI Official to FBI Official re: Trip to Guantanamo and Meeting with General Miller Email states "We learned that neither Andy Arena nor the Miami ASAC will be coming to GTMO. Apparently, FBIHQ is scaling down their presence for the ...
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Andrew Arena, Geoffrey D. Miller
Email to Major General Miller, begins by stating the FBI has concerns over [redacted]; ends with the FBI remains in support of the JTE GTMO mission.
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Geoffrey D. Miller
Geoffrey D. Miller
Emails between Stephen Wiley, Marion Bowman and Others re: Guantanamo. Contents completely redacted
Feb. 06, 2006
Email
Stephen R. Wiley, Marion E. Bowman