Grand Jury Investigating Torture Death of Abu Ghraib Detainee as War Crime

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Wed Jun 15, 2011 at 12:03:57 PM EST
Tags: Manadel al-Jamadi, CIA, Abu Ghraib, Mark Swanner (all tags)

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Time Magazine reports a federal grand jury is investigating the 2003 torture and killing of Manadel al-Jamadi at Abu Ghraib as a potential war crime. Years ago, navy seals were charged over the death. At least one went to trial and was found not guilty.

TIME has obtained a copy of a subpoena signed by Durham that points to his grand jury's broader mandate, which could involve charging additional CIA officers and contract employees in other cases. The subpoena says "the grand jury is conducting an investigation of possible violations of federal criminal laws involving War Crimes (18 USC/2441), Torture (18 USC 243OA) and related federal offenses." [More...]

Who inflicted the torture? Was it a CIA agent, or a contract CIA agent? Back in 2004, Sabrina Harmon, the army reservist shown above giving the thumbs-up over Jamadi's body, had this to say in an interview while her courts-martial was pending.

Time reports one person under investigation is likely Mark Swanner, a non-covert CIA interrogator and polygraph expert who questioned al-Jamadi immediately before his death. Jane Mayer wrote about Swanner in 2005, asking whether the CIA can legally kill prisoners. Her full article is here.

Update: Jane Hamsher reports from the federal courthouse in Alexandria that Lynndie England is there today, having received a subpoena last week. England's lawyer said she's there to be questioned about events at Abu Ghraib that occurred when she wasn't present. That sounds like the al