FBI Memo: Inquiry Regarding Activities of FBI Personnel at Abu Ghraib Prison From October 2003 - December 2003

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<p>Cable summarizes the results of 14 interviews of FBI personnel who participated in detainee interviews at Abu Ghraib between October and December 2003. Attached to the cable is a classified chart of FBI personnel who conducted interviews at Abu Ghraib during that period and a list of questions covered in the interviews. The cable includes descriptions of specific incidents that the interviewed FBI personnel believed did not rise to level of misconduct (e.g. hooding, nakedness, and sleep deprivation). The cable refers to the list of acceptable interview techniques provided by the Defense Department and describes detainees' complaints of military misconduct, including allegations of torture.</p>

Doc_type: 
Non-legal Memo
Doc_date: 
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Doc_rel_date: 
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Doc_text: 

b5 -2 (ttv 01-31-2003) SE :T FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Precedence: ROUTINE Date: 05/19/2004 To: Counterterrorism Division Attn: T. J. Harrington, De• y Assistant Director •perational Support, Room 43 Director's Office Attn: b6 -1 b7C -1 General Counsel Att•. Valerie E. Caproni, General Counsel, Room 7427 From: Inspection b2 -1 Contact: A. b61- Approved Byi - --b6 -1 -1 Drafted By: 1 b7C -1 Case ID #: (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E Title: (U) COUNTERTERRORISM DIVISC04, INQUIRY REGARDING ACTIVITIES OF FBI PERSONNIEL AT ABU GHURAYB PRISON DURING OCTOBER 2003 - DECEMBER 2003 Synopsis: (U) Provide summary of tie results of 14 interviews conducted to date by the Inspection Division in association with captioned inquiry It should be noted that CTD and the General Counsel are in the process of reviewing documents which may identify additional FBI personnel for the Inspection Division to interview in association with this i -tquiry (U ) 1:131 Derive rom : G-1 Decla i n: Kl Enclosures: (U) Enclosed are the )following documents: (U) - ----.( 1) Copy of a two-page classthed chart provided by General Counsel Valerie Caproni, OGC, to the Inspection Division. This chart identifies FS., personnel deployed to Iraq who conducted interviews at Abu Ghurayb Prison (AGP) during the period of October 2003 through December 2003 Column headings on the chart set Eorth the location, date, serial number, interviewers and interviewee. dmf SO6T DETAINEES-1179 To. Counterterrorism Division From Inspection Re: (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E, 05/19/2004 S#VT (U) (2) Copy of the list of 12 questions covered in each interview conducted by the Inspection Division of FBI personnel identified in Enclosure (1) as having participated in an intervLew of a detainee at AGP during the period of October 2003 through December 2003. (3) Copy of a chart prepared by the Inspection Division entitled "ABU GHURAYB PPISON - IRAQ, LIST OF INTERVIEWEES & DATES OF INTERVIEWS " Details: (U) For background infc'rnation, based upon the information provided to the Inspect:on Division by General Counsel Capron' in Enclosure (1), a total of 13 FBI employees (ten SAs and three LSs) were identified as participants in interviews of nine detainees at AGP during the perioa of October 2003 through December 2003 The number of interviews conducted by FBI personnel at AGP during this same time period totaled 25, as four of the nine detainees were interviewed on multiple occasions (U) On 05/17/2004 and 05/18/2004, the Inspection Division conducted interviews of the ten SAs and three LSs identified as having participated 4, interviews of detainees at AGP In addition, SA CJIS, was interviewed based on the r on of tormer On-Scere-Commander Chris Swecker due to SA fleauent presence at the AGP during the relevant b6 i time A • was TDY tc Iraq and present at AGP for ­ b7C -1 the purpose of fingerprinting and processing detainees ) (U) Of the 14 FBI employees interviewed to date, none reported observing misconduct or mistreatment of detainees at AGP similar to that which has been reported in recent media accounts. Several of the FBI employees interviewed reported observations which they did not believe rose to the level of misconduct or mistreatment. These observations included. (1) a detainee, with an empty green nylon sand bag placed over his head and draped in a shower curtain, was observed handcuffed to a waist high railing (military personnel advised the SA the detainee was being subjected to sleep deprivation and the SA observed an MP lightly slap the detainee on his back, consistent with someone trying to'assure the detainee did not fall asleep); (2) military personnel retraining a detainee who was "spread eagle" on a mattress on the floor yelling and flailing (military personnel advised the SA the detainee was mentally ill and the SA's observatLons were consistent with the miliCary personnel attempting to assist a mentally ill person); (3) a detainee, either naked or wearing ooxer shorts, lying prone on SEyk' 2 DETAINEES-1180 To Counterterrorism Division Frcm Inspection Re (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E, 05/19/2004 the wet floor (one military person was in the vicinity, but there was no one interacting with the detainee according to the SA), (4) detainees who were ordered to strip and then placed in isolation with no clothes (SA reported the stripping was no different from the searching procedures he had observed used by guards in U S jails), (5) an MP shouting at a detainee who did not understand the MP's directions; and (6) detainees wearing hoods while escorted on prison grounds (reported to be a p4-iaon regulation). (U) I b5 -1 b6 -1 - b7C -1 (U) SAI IFA/RDT, CTD, advised he signed b6 -1 an initial Mill ary Titelligence (MI)/DoD form prior to conducting b7C 1 - interviews SA recalled that the document delineated the interview techn ques allowed, and those requiring specific approval According to SA the document appeared to be a standard form, and applic encies wanting to conduct interviews of detainees SA oted that sleep deprivation was not on the list of p le interview activities, but required a specific request. SA dvised he generally discussed the form, read and signed the orm,but did not maintain a copy of the form. b6 1 - SA advised that other than signing this form, he was not aware of DoD authorizations or techniaups as they were not relevant -1 to his interviews. SAI New York Field Office, reported he was aware DoD utilized sleep deprivation and isolation fo b ibed periods of time, but cid not witness any such act. SA was aware of those techniques through the MI personnel res•onsi for the military's interviews of detainees and it was SA understanding the techniques were allowed for limited pe-s o ime. (U) With regard to complaints made by detainees to FBI personnel concerning misconduct or mistreatment, LSI 1 b6 1 - b7C -1 SE$T 3 DETAINEES-1181 To Counterterrorism Division From Inspection Re (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E, 05/19/2004 SKET Houston Division, advised there were three occasions in which detainees brought to his interview team's attention acts f abuse which had taken place prior to arriving at AGP LS advised the interviews determined those acts of abuse occurred during arrests by military personnel further described as "non-American." Examples of the reported abuse included being kicked in the stomach, electric shock, threats to harm family members, and one burn victim The detainee who had been burned w Iraqi Intelligence Officer and the only individual LS recalled interviewing outside the prison compound LS advised this b6 -1 individual was a patient w_a_a4ghdad hospita w s contacted there several times by LS/land an SA. LS advised that b7C -I the FBI SAs took pictures of all of the individua es, even hose h occurred prior to incarceration. SA FA/RDT, CTD, recalled several interviewees commenting at they were well treated and glad to be in the custody of the Americans as opposed to being a pzisoner of local law enforcement Loa Anrielpn Fi el d nffirp advised detainee ( ..-rk ompla flea curing nis Interview that he had ippec) I Liciau, Is. naked subjected tc sleep deprivation. also complained to SA that he had been "roughed up" by Amer1Camb6 -1,3,4 personnel, who w uniform. SAS explained that the American personnel referred to had purportedly used their b7C -1,3, hands to "rou•h u Howevez, during the interview of b7D -1 SA advised he did rot notice any physical marks whi an had suffered any mistreatment According tob7F -1 SA Fly Away/Rapid Deplo T), CTD, wh•was a so presen during interviews of reported of "commotion and screamin- at ni ht " S in erpreted this as possible supposition on •art tat of er detainees might have been subjected to torture. SA advised was held in a cell with a solid door and wal s, so he was eport on anything he observed SA'. also perceived complaint of hearing screams as "posturing" to support his early anti-U S position, as well as to a complaint regarding a lack of sleep (Note.1 )was the detainee with whom FBI personnel had the greatest amount of contact and accounted for 12 of the 25 interviews conducted by the FBI at AGP during the relevant time period.) (U) FBI personnel interviewed advised their contact with military personnel was for the purpose of arranging interviews with the detainees and no one interviewed reported having any 4 DETAINEES-1182 To Counterterrorism Division From. Inspection Re (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E, 05/19/2004 SOT' substantive contact with Military Police personnel in charge of the prison. (U) Of the 14 individuals interviewed, none advised of an interview conducted within Unit lA or 1B. Many of those interviewed were unaware of the specific area within the main AGP building designated as Unit 1A or IB, but advised that their interviews did not take place within the main prison building The majority of the FBI's interviews occurred in one of two separate stand-alone buildings located wither the AGP compound, but separated from the main prison building where the detainees were held. One building, which contained six to eight interrogation rooms, was described by FBI personnel as constructed of wood. As a result of the building's construction materials, it was referred to as "wood" or "wood site." The other building was described as a "trailer" divided into four interview rooms and was referred to by some as "steel." In addition, several FBI personnel advised they conducted interviews which took place in an air conditionid tent, also located within the AGP compound SAI Little -Rock Division, advised one of -rviews took piace in an b6 -1 office utilized by the MI S who worked at AGP three to b7C -1 four days each week fingerprin Ing an• obtaining DNA samples from detainees, provided the interviewing SSA a hand-drawn diagram which depicts the location of the main cell block area, the tent ar a. and the stand-alone building utilized for his interviews. SA advised the "wood site" building was located approximately 15 yards from the security cell block portion of the main prison. b6 -1,3,4 3)14( All FBI personnel advised the interviews conducted b7C -1,3, by the FBI at AGP comported with pzescribed DOJ and/or FBI protocols The only exception noted pertained to Miranda warnings b7D -1 which were not given prior to the Interviews. SAI Ire1orteil one exception in which she was instraqted by b7F -1 1 to read detainee' his U S. Constitutional rights prior to his interrogation. (U) None of the FBI personnel possessed or were aware of any photographs, videotapes or notes of actions depicting misconduct or nArw"-^/."-11-° /"‘by U.S personnel against ^3"w" detainees. SA Houston Division, advised most FBI personnel eployea to Iraq were provided with a CD containing b6 -1 photographs taken by various FBI personnel during their TDY rotation to the Baghdad Operation Center. SA1 stated he b7C -1 believed he reviewed all the photographs on the CD and did not see 5 DETAINEES-1183 To Counterterrorism Division From. Inspection Re. (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E, 05/19/2004 !..tf!1?,'• SEC T any which depicted misconduct or inappropriate behavior by U.S. personnel against detainees. (U) Agents interviewed pursuant to this inquiry reported facilitating special requests on behalf of detainees they interviewed such as. (1) arranging a visit from a detainee's son; (2) requesting the military provide long pants for a detainee who was clothed in shorts at the time of his interview with the FBI (the next time the SA saw the detairee the detainee was clothed in a traditional robe rather than shorts), and (3) arranging for doctor visits for a detainee who complained he was not able to see a doctor (U) SAI advised of amenities provided to one detainee/interviewee. he amenities included providing a light bulb for the detainee's cell,_a_sopy of the Koran, polypropylene underwear and sandals SA advised he also requested the prison guards to treat one detainiz of interview interest, very b6 -1 professionally Specifically, SA 'requested the prison personnel not ridicule or humiliate the det inee and respect the b7c -1 detainee's needs for prayer time -Sl advised he did not observe any mistreatment o a_u , Vi xtent, recently reported by the media SA stated he observed three incidents that "caught his attention. e incidents observed by SA are the first three observations previously described on page two. sr 6 DETAINEES-1184 DOJFB1-000943 To: Counterterrorism Division From Inspection Re (U) 297-HQ-A13276697-E, 05/19/2004 LEAD(S): Set Lead 1: (Info) COUNTERTERRORISM AT WASHINGTON, D C For Information. Set Lead 2: (Info) DIRECTOR'S OFFICE AT WASHINGTON, D.0 For Information Set Lead 3: (Info) GENERAL COUNSEL AT WASHINGTON, D C. For Information. . • S*T 7 DETAINEES-1185 Location Date.Sepal Interviewers Abu Ghurayb 10/2/2003 ss Abu Ghurayb 10/6/2003 SA SA LS Abu Ghurayb 10/6/2003 SA, SA LS Abu Ghurayb 10/7/2003 Capt SSG SPC •• ¦ . • Abu Ghanb 10/30/200 s. LS •• . -;" .• Abu Ghurayb 11/4/2003 sI •• , ".•..- Abu Ghurayb 11/6/2003 SA SA LS Abu Ghanb 11/9/2003 SI-Special's Abu Ghraib 11/20/200 SI-Sergean Abu Ghurayb 11/20/200: Abu Ghraib 11/22/2003 PF Abu Ghurayb 11/23/2003 Abu Ghurayb 11/26/2003 SAL Sergean Abu Ghraib 11/26/2003 SA SA Specialis :•= Abu Ghraib 11/30/2003 Interviewee b6 -1,2,3,4 b7C -1,2,3,4 b7D -1 b7F -1 I ii IT DETAINEES-1186 DOJ FBI-000945 Abu Ghraib 12/1/2003 Special Abu Ghurayb 12/1/2003 L Abu Ghurayb 12/312003 Sergeant SA Abu Ghratb 12/8/2003 • g Abu Ghraib 12/9/2003 1 Abu Ghraib 12/12/2003 Abu Ghraib 12/18/2003 S. Abu Ghraib 12/19/2003 I Abu Ghratb 2/20/2003 Abu Ghraib 12/22/2003 . I b6 -1,2, 3,4 I . b7C -1,2 ,3,4 b7D -1— b7F -1 .11 DETAINEES-1187 DOJ FBI-000946

Doc_nid: 
5117
Doc_type_num: 
63