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CIA Announces Changes To Way Agency Polices Itself

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By JOBY WARRICK, The Washington Post

Published: February 2, 2008

WASHINGTON - The CIA's inspector general has agreed to tighter controls over its investigative procedures, agency officials revealed Friday, in what appeared to be an attempt to soften resentments among agency officials over the watchdog's aggressive probes into the legality and effectiveness of the CIA's counterterrorism efforts and detention programs.

The revisions, which include the appointment of a special ombudsman to oversee the inspector general's work, were disclosed by CIA Director Michael Hayden in an e-mail sent to employees, announcing the end of an unusual inquiry into the performance of Inspector General John Helgerson, a 36-year CIA veteran and the man chiefly responsible for the spy agency's internal oversight.

The inquiry, begun last year, had raised concern among lawmakers who worried that the CIA was seeking to undermine the independence of Helgerson and his staff of auditors and inspectors. Helgerson angered top officials at the agency after leading aggressive investigations into the CIA's performance before the Sept. 11 attacks, as well as its use of secret prisons and harsh interrogation methods against terrorism suspects.

Hayden, in the note to employees, praised Helgerson and his staff as being "committed to performing investigations ... of the highest quality, integrity and timeliness," but said the inspector general had agreed on the need for changes.

"John has chosen to take a number of steps to heighten the efficiency, assure the quality and increase the transparency of the investigation process," Hayden said in the e-mail.

The changes include measures intended to speed up investigations and require the watchdog to keep CIA employees and managers informed about the process and results of investigations. In addition to appointing an ombudsman, Helgerson also agreed to name a "quality control officer" who would make sure that reports "include all exculpatory and relevant mitigating information," Hayden said.

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