According to a CIA agent who gave testimony in secret to safeguard his identity, a Navy SEAL “beat up” an unarmed prisoner in Iraq on Tuesday. The agent said that he struck the prisoner after spotting a SEAL on his back. The agent claimed he informed a senior CIA official on the ground about the incident in October 2003, who informed the Naval commander that such conduct was unacceptable.
The trial for the lieutenant entered its second day on Tuesday. Andrew K. Ledford is charged of permitting his Navy SEALs to mistreat prisoners, one of whom eventually passed away.
Dan Cerrillo, a former petty officer, said earlier on Tuesday that he was the Navy SEAL who attacked the prisoner and shoved his face in the sand while testifying under immunity.
But, Cerillo, a member of Ledford’s Foxtrot platoon, asserted that Ledford was following directions from “these individuals we shouldn’t be talking about” – a tactic employed by witnesses and attorneys to avoid CIA allusions. one of the bureau euphemisms. The phrase “the agency” as well as “another government agency” and “security officers” are also used. Cerrillo instructed the jury in Ledford’s case, “If [the prisoner] doesn’t answer, I let him talk.”
After being injured in Iraq, Cerillo quit the Navy for a while. “In the middle of [the incident], the security guy told me not to punch [the detainee] in the face because then it would be very difficult for him to get her out,” he recalled. months ago.
When CIA agents speak regarding classified or classified material, the public is not permitted in courtrooms. The general public was confined behind the protective agent’s curtain as he proceeded to testify. None of the six jury members who were present during the unclassified portion of the CIA agent’s testimony attempted to reconcile his version of events with Cerrillo’s, despite the fact that they had every right to do so. The testimony was conducted with the presence of a CIA lawyer.
When SEALs and CIA agents worked together to apprehend “senior” Iraqis who were thought to be terrorists, the attack took place in late October 2003.
Manadel Jamadi was detained by Navy SEALs two weeks after the attack on the Red Cross facility in Baghdad that left 12 people dead. After being questioned by the CIA, Jammadi was brought to Abu Ghraib jail where he passed away. An inquiry into a murder was opened by Interpol. Jamadi’s killing is not being investigated, although 10 SEALs are allegedly responsible for mistreating Jamadi and other inmates.
Some Navy members are upset that no CIA agents or employees have been brought to justice. When asked about his opinion of the Ledford case, Cerrillo responded, “I’m not too happy about it because I don’t think it’s right. Charges against Ledford include misbehavior, violence, false reporting, and duty neglect.
Frank Spinner, the defense counsel, informed the jury that the prosecution would not call any witnesses to show that Ledford was present during the atrocities or was aware of the treatment of captives by SEALs working for him. Ledford was guilty of “failure to lead,” according to Jonathan Freimann, one of the prosecutors, Lieutenant, who made this claim in the opening statements. Two of Ledford’s row of 16 testified in court on Tuesday that they kicked and assaulted detainees, including Jamadi.