WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- A proposed inquiry into alleged CIA abuse during interrogations of terrorism suspects would be narrow in scope, U.S. justice officials said.
A prosecutor to be named by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder would limit the investigation to reports of excessive waterboarding and other harsh methods, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.
The inquiry would focus on whether CIA interrogators went beyond techniques authorized in Bush administration memos that liberally interpreted anti-torture laws, a senior justice official told the Times.
Criminal convictions could be difficult to obtain because it isn't clear whether interrogators were informed of the limits set forth in the memos, a former senior U.S. intelligence official told the Times.
"A number of people could say honestly, correctly, 'I didn't know what was in it,' " the former official said.
Holder is close to naming a prosecutor, but it's not known exactly when the appointment is to be made, the Times reported.
The former and current officials interviewed by the Times spoke on condition of anonymity because of the secrecy surrounding the deliberations.
