The destruction of videotapes in 2005 showing abusive treatment of high-level al-Qaida detainees by CIA agents flouted an order by Southern District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to preserve the tapes. Five years later, the judge is still looking for a remedy.
On Friday, Judge Hellerstein said he wants some acceptance of responsibility for the incident by the Central Intelligence Agency as well as an indication that corrective action has been taken for violating his 2004 order to preserve the tapes. The 92 tapes cover the interrogation of two top al-Qaida figures through the use of waterboarding and other coercive measures.
