Alleged WH Draft Could Bring Old CIA Habits Back to Life

An executive order allegedly drafted by the Trump administration has been circulating around the country. A drafted document first obtained by the Washington Post appears to be signed by President Trump that asks for a review in which the CIA could be allowed to reopen “black site” prisons that have been used for torture purposes. This program was shut down under the Obama presidency.

The draft is unsigned but it does appear to show President Trump’s intentions to return the CIA back to its old ways by using techniques against captured terrorist/enemy combatants that could lead to their leader’s whereabouts as it did for the death of Osama Bin Laden. The alleged document also sheds light on the President’s ideas with Guantanamo Bay, in which it states that the President wants to send newly captured detainees there. Since Obama took office in 2009, no detainee has been sent there. 

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer denied the alleged document saying, “I have no idea where it came from.” It appears if the document is true, that President Trump is at odds with high-ranking members of his administration. General Mattis and newly hired CIA Director Mike Pompeo seem as though they are caught off guard with this document and the allegations it shows. If the document ends up being true this could cause widespread anger towards the Trump administration, not only from Senate Democrats but also from other countries as it appears to violate international and human rights laws. 

Jack Goldsmith, a former head of the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel and a Harvard Law Professor has said that “Trump will regret this executive order, if issued, that symbolic bang that Trump sought would backfire on the administration.”  Another key issue with this document is that the statistics mentioned inside regarding the number of released detained going back to armed conflict is around 30%, but the Office of the DNI reports that the number is close to 18%. 

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