Senator Ted Kennedy Asks FBI For Interrogation Tapes

December 18, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy sent the following letter to Robert S. Mueller III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, regarding the destruction by the CIA of videotapes of the interrogation of two detainees.

Senator Kennedy requests notification as to whether or not the FBI has retained such videotapes or transcripts, and if so, that they be preserved and make available for inspection.

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The text of the letter is below.

December 18, 2007

Robert S. Mueller III

Director

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Dear Director Mueller:

Congress and the American people were stunned to learn that the CIA had destroyed videotapes of the interrogation of two detainees, Abu Zubaida and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. Plainly the videotapes of those interrogations were relevant to ongoing and future litigation and to congressional oversight of the treatment of detainees.

Members of Congress and the courts have begun to sort through the consequences of the destruction of the tapes and the question has arisen whether other copies exist of the videotapes, transcripts of the interrogations, or other documents related to the interrogations or the destruction of the tapes. Today’s Washington Post report on FBI participation in the interrogation of Abu Zubaida clearly raises the question whether the FBI has such copies now, or had them in the past.

Please let me know whether the FBI has retained videotapes or transcripts of either of these interrogations, or has retained other documents bearing on the interrogations. If so, I trust you are taking appropriate steps to guarantee their preservation. If you do have such information, I ask that you produce copies or make them available for inspection. If the FBI has such copies in the past, I ask that you explain what has happened to them.

I’m sure you recognize the special importance of the questions raised by the CIA’s destruction of the interrogation videotapes and the need for Congress to obtain complete information, so that it can perform its legitimate oversight and legislative roles. I look forward to your early response to this letter.

Sincerely,

Edward M. Kennedy

Source: Senator Edward M. Kennedy