Rep. Eshoo Calls On Attorney General to Investigate New Guantanamo Allegations

January 26, 2010

Washington, D.C.-Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence issued the following statement today about allegations raised in an article entitled "The Guantanamo 'Suicides'," in the March 2010 issue of Harper's Magazine, authored by Scott Horton:

"I am deeply disturbed by the allegations raised in the article relating to the deaths of three detainees at Guantanamo in 2006.

"I'm calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to thoroughly investigate these allegations and to also review the work done by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

"These are grave allegations, which deserve a thorough investigation by the Attorney General of the United States.

###

Scott Horton's article can be found here: http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/01/hbc-90006368.

January 25, 2010

Dear Attorney General Holder,

It is with grave concern that I read an extensive article entitled "The Guantanamo 'Suicides'," in the March 2010 issue of Harper's Magazine, authored by Scott Horton. In it, it is alleged that the deaths of three detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility in June of 2006 were not suicide, as announced by the commander of the facility.

The article further cites accounts of witnesses at Guantanamo, as well as statements from other documents that conflict with the conclusions of the base commander.

Furthermore, the article also raises questions regarding the thoroughness of the investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) in reviewing the incident.

For all of the above reasons, I'm calling on you today to open an investigation of these grave allegations. I'm also calling on you to review the report of the NCIS to determine its veracity, and should your conclusions warrant, to then take the appropriate actions.

Sincerely,

Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress