Holder considers torture prosecutions

WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is considering having a prosecutor investigate allegations of CIA torture of suspected terrorists, The Washington Post said.

The move could put Holder on a collision course with the White House, the newspaper reported. President Barack Obama has been reluctant to investigate actions carried out under former President George W. Bush, fearing a partisan battle that might derail his agenda.

CIA employees who used harsh interrogation techniques have a defense -- that they were authorized by Justice Department lawyers. But sources told the Post Holder might try to punish some employees who went beyond those methods.

A secret report prepared by the CIA inspector general in 2004 is scheduled to be released Aug. 31. The Justice Department is preparing to release an ethics report on the Bush administration lawyers in the next few weeks.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has already warned the Obama administration about inquiring into interrogations. In a speech, he said the agents involved in questioning suspects can be "proud of their work and proud of the results."