Kamen, Al. "In the Loop: Leaving Langley." Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2009, A13. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]
Kamen, Al. "In the Loop: Leaving Langley." Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2009, A13. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]
CIA Inspector General John L. Helgerson announced on 18 February 2009 that "he will retire from the federal government in 30 days."
Mazzetti, Mark. "C.I.A. Tells of Changes for Its Internal Inquiries." New York Times, 2 Feb. 2008. [http://www.nytimes.com]
In a message to employees on 31 January 2008, CIA Director Gen. Michael V. Hayden announced that CIA Inspector General John L. Helgerson "has agreed to a series of changes in the way the office conducts its investigations of the agency's practices... Among the changes ... were new procedures to allow agency officers to lodge complaints against the inspector general’s office." The changes follow an internal review begun in April 2007 and "led by Robert L. Deitz, a close aide to General Hayden." In addition to a special ombudsman in the inspector general’s office, "a new position of quality control officer is being established ... to attest, as General Hayden put it, 'that reports include all exculpatory and relevant mitigating information.'"
Mazzetti, Mark, and Scott Shane. "Watchdog of C.I.A. Is Subject of C.I.A. Inquiry." New York Times, 11 Oct. 2007. [http://www.nytimes.com]
CIA Director Gen. Michael V. Hayden "has ordered an unusual internal inquiry into the work of the agency’s inspector general, whose aggressive investigations of the C.I.A.’s detention and interrogation programs and other matters have created resentment among agency operatives." Current and former officials speaking on condition of anonymity "said the inquiry was being overseen by Robert L. Deitz, a trusted aide to the C.I.A. director and a lawyer who served as general counsel at the National Security Agency when General Hayden ran it. Michael Morrell, the agency’s associate deputy director, is another member of the group, officials said."
Miller, Greg. "John Rizzo: The Most Influential Career Lawyer in CIA History." Los Angeles Times, 29 Jun. 2009. [http://www.latimes.com]
"The acting general counsel at the CIA, Rizzo has guided generations of agency leaders on the legal contours of clandestine operations and the often-ensuing investigations. At CIA headquarters, he is known for his eye-watering wardrobe -- with ties, cuff links and suspenders colored like scoops of sherbet. His legal approach, however, always accommodated shades of gray, earning him a reputation among spies as an ally who understood the murky morality of what they do. When he retires this summer, Rizzo will go out as the most influential career lawyer in CIA history, having risen to the top of the agency's legal ranks while leaving his mark on classified programs from proxy wars in Central America to Predator strikes in Pakistan."
Clark comment: Senate questions about John Rizzo's role in the approval of the CIA's interrogation methods prevented him from formally being named CIA general counsel, although he has acted in that capacity for at least 5 years. This article says he is retiring this summer; I wish him a pleasant retirement -- for all his unconventioanality, John has served his country well.
See Joby Warrick, "Senate Intelligence Panel Seeks CIA Nominee's Withdrawal," Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2007, A11; and Joby Warrick, "Nominee Withdraws Bid for Key CIA Post," Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2007, A12.
Pincus, Walter. "Lawmakers Criticize CIA Director's Review Order." Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2007, A3. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]
CIA Director Gen. Michael V. Hayden's decision "to order a special review of efforts by CIA Inspector General John L. Helgerson to probe the agency's past interrogations and imprisonment of terrorism suspects evoked concern [on 12 October 2007] among congressional staff members and lawmakers." HPSCI Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) "said in a statement ... that the review of the agency's inspector general ... is 'troubling' because of its possible impact on the official's independence, 'which Congress established and will very aggressively preserve.'"
Radsan, A. John. "Sed Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes: The CIA's Office of General Counsel?" Journal of National Security Law and Policy 2 (2008): 201-255. [http://www.mcgeorge.edu/Documents/publications/jnslp/01_Radsan Master 09_11_08.pdf]
"Throughout American history, Presidents have been tempted by Commander-in-Chief powers and by executive authority to keep information classified.... If Presidents have insisted on the utmost secrecy, spymasters have accommodated them, cutting out Vice Presidents, cabinet secretaries, and ambassadors. The spymasters have also cut out other intelligence officers.... The harsh reality in intelligence activities is that cutting out a few lawyers is just as easy, even easier....
"Some Presidents, like President Carter, may have strictly adhered to the letter of the law on intelligence activities. Some Presidents, like President Reagan, may have strayed. Some CIA General Counsels have followed their President's course; some have strayed. Even when Presidents and General Counsels share similar courses, they are not always in lock-step, because too many layers of executive authority ... often stand between them. Yet the President and the General Counsel have an effect on each other, even if that effect is indirect and not easily measured....
"The CIA's Office of General Counsel, when it lives up to its promise, serves as one guard over the activities of the CIA. The lawyers there are not perfect, but ... they ... [constitute] some sort of guard over the guardians."
Shane, Scott, and Mark Mazzetti. "Lawmakers Raise Concerns Over Call for Investigation of C.I.A. Watchdog’s Work." New York Times, 13 Oct. 2007. [http://www.nytimes.com]
On 12 October 2007, Sen. Christopher S. Bond (R-MO), "[t]he top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee[,] joined Democrats ... in expressing strong concern about an unusual inquiry into the work" of CIA Inspector General John L. Helgerson, "saying the review could undermine Mr. Helgerson’s role as independent watchdog."
Shane, Scott, and Mark Mazzetti. "Moves Signal Tighter Secrecy Within C.I.A." New York Times, 24 Apr. 2006. [http://www.nytimes.com]
Intelligence officials with knowledge of the investigation said on 23 April 2006 that the CIA's "crackdown on leaks ... that led to the dismissal of a veteran intelligence officer last week included a highly unusual polygraph examination for the agency's independent watchdog, Inspector General John L. Helgerson."
United Press International. "Hayden Names New Director for Intelligence." 13 Mar. 2008. [http://www.upi.com]
According to a CIA report, DCIA Mike Hayden has announced that "current Associate Deputy Director Michael Morell will succeed John Kringen as the agency's director for intelligence at the beginning of May.... Officials say Kringen has been moved to a senior intelligence community post. Current CIA Director for Support Scott White will succeed Morell as associate deputy director.
Warrick, Joby. "CIA Sets Changes To IG's Oversight, Adds Ombudsman." Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2008, A3. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]
"[A]nnouncing the end of an unusual inquiry into the performance of Inspector General [IG] John L. Helgerson," CIA Director Michael V. Hayden has told CIA employees that the agency's "inspector general has agreed to tighter controls over its investigative procedures." The changes "include the appointment of a special ombudsman to oversee the IG's work" and "measures intended to speed up investigations and require the watchdog to keep CIA employees and managers informed about both the process and results of investigations."
Warrick, Joby. "Senate Intelligence Panel Seeks CIA Nominee's Withdrawal." Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2007, A11. [http://www.washingtonpost.com]
"Members of the Senate intelligence committee have requested the withdrawal of the Bush administration's choice for CIA general counsel, acknowledging that John Rizzo's nomination has stalled because of concerns about his views on the treatment of terrorism suspects.... Rizzo has served with the CIA since 1976 and acted as interim general counsel from 2001 to 2002 and from August 2004 to the present."
Joby Warrick, "Nominee Withdraws Bid for Key CIA Post," Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2007, A12, reports that on 25 September 2007, John A. Rizzo withdrew his candidacy for the position of CIA general counsel. His nomination had encountered "opposition from Democrats who questioned his views on the agency's methods of interrogating terrorism suspects."
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