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Holder Investigation Moves On

CIA abuse prosecutor may be appointed soon.

It's not over yet: Attorney General Eric Holder may soon appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate the alleged CIA abuses during the interrogation of terrorism suspects. According to a senior Justice Department official, Holder is seeking an inquiry into "whether people went beyond the techniques that were authorized" during interrogations. He's apparently been reluctant to pursue the case as a criminal investigation, but, as one source told the Los Angeles Times, "as attorney general, he has the obligation to follow the law." Officials say there is only thin evidence in most cases, and that waterboarding abuses may be the most promising ones for prosecution. But there are also reports that an interrogator once brandished a gun in a meeting with a suspect, and other previously undisclosed cases may come under review in the inquiry. And, according to the L.A. Times, a few CIA officials have delayed retirement so they can have access to classified files in case they need to defend themselves against an investigation.