--- title: Senate Report Blasts CIA's Handling of Interrogation Program description: The CIA made false claims about intelligence gained from enhanced interrogation techniques, the report says canonical: https://time.com/44635/senate-cia-interrogation/ author: Alex Fitzpatrick article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-04-01T02:04:08.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:01:28.900Z article:section: Politics og:title: Senate Report Blasts CIA's Handling of Interrogation Program og:description: The CIA made false claims about intelligence gained from enhanced interrogation techniques, the report says og:url: https://time.com/44635/senate-cia-interrogation/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc2c50fa11d1b7ae1/6986883c36176009f690b372/ap100606276342.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 5184 og:image:height: 2916 og:image:alt: Dianne Feinstein og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Senate Report Blasts CIA's Handling of Interrogation Program twitter:description: The CIA made false claims about intelligence gained from enhanced interrogation techniques, the report says twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc2c50fa11d1b7ae1/6986883c36176009f690b372/ap100606276342.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Senate Report Blasts CIA's Handling of Interrogation Program > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ## Video: Senate Report Slams CIA For Interrogation Techniques [Watch (HLS stream): Senate Report Slams CIA For Interrogation Techniques](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/q5MG47lr.m3u8) (1:46)  _Published 2014-04-01. So-called "enhanced interrogation" techiques are under new scrutiny as the Senate Intelligence Committee reexamines the CIA's record._  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Apr 1, 2014 2:04 AM UTC  Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein arrives at the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill on March 27, 2014 Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein arrives at the Senate chamber on Capitol Hill on March 27, 2014 J. Scott Applewhite—AP  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Apr 1, 2014 2:04 AM UTC A new Senate Intelligence Committee [report](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-misled-on-interrogation-program-senate-report-says/2014/03/31/eb75a82a-b8dd-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245%5Fstory.html) is lambasting the CIA for misleading Americans about its controversial Bush-era interrogation program, the Washington _Post_ reports. Citing unnamed officials who have reviewed the still undisclosed document, the _Post_ reports that it alleges the CIA claimed it gained actionable intelligence after using its harshest interrogation techniques, when in fact that information was gained before agents resorted to such measures. CIA officials also tried to conceal the extremity of the agency’s most brutal interrogation techniques, the report says, practices many have decried as torture. Another section of the report based on what the _Post_ calls “millions of records” says information that led to the 2011 death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had “little, if anything” to do with “enhanced interrogation techniques,” as government officials have called the agency’s most controversial methods. The committee will ask the White House on Thursday to make public a part of the still classified report. Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, a Democratic California Senator, [said](http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/dianne-feinstein-cia-report-105229.html) Monday that she believes the Obama Administration will declassify the report so all Americans can read her committee’s work. “I believe they will, hopefully quickly,” Feinstein said, according to [Politico](http://www.politico.com/story/2014/03/dianne-feinstein-cia-report-105229.html)_._ Feinstein [accused the CIA](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/feinstein-cia-searched-intelligence-committee-computers/2014/03/11/982cbc2c-a923-11e3-8599-ce7295b6851c%5Fstory.html) earlier in March of improperly searching a Senate computer set up for committee staffers to conduct their investigation. \[[Washington _Post_](http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-misled-on-interrogation-program-senate-report-says/2014/03/31/eb75a82a-b8dd-11e3-96ae-f2c36d2b1245%5Fstory.html)\] ## Transcript So called enhanced interrogation techniques did not help find Osama Bin Laden. At least, according to a classified report from the US Senate Intelligence Committee. The Washington Post which broke the story, reports the CIA misled the public for years. Quote, concealing details about the severity of its methods overstating the significance and prisoners. And taking credit for critical pieces of intelligence that detainees had in fact surrendered before they were subjected to harsh techniques. Some of those techniques reportedly dunking prisoners in ice cold water and smashing their heads up against walls. The post report CIA officials were ordered to continue with this torture even when they were convinced the suspects had no more information to give. This took place at the CIA's secret detention facilities, known as Black Sites. The Senate report also found much of the evidence that led to Osama Bin Laden's capture was obtained without the use of water boarding. And other controversial, harsh interrogation techniques. This, despite claims from former Bush Administration officials who have long said enhanced interrogation led to critical evidence used to track down Osama Bin Laden. The new report only adds to the tension between the Agency and Congress. Last month Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman, Dianne Feinstein accused the CIA of secretly searching a senate computer network and possibly breaking Federal law in doing so. Her committee plans to vote Thursday on whether to send the documents to President Obama for declassification. No official comment yet from the CIA. On the contents of the report. Thanks for watching. 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