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Retired psychologist behind CIA torture program to testify in court for first time

Posted at 11:54 AM, Jan 21, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-21 12:54:55-05

A retired psychologist who was one of two private contractors who designed a brutal CIA torture program following the Sept. 11 attacks is testifying about it in court for the first time.

James Mitchell was called Tuesday as a defense witness in military proceedings at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, against five men charged for their alleged roles in the 9/11 plot.

Defense lawyers hope Mitchell's testimony about interrogations that many believe amounted to torture will help disqualify statements the defendants made to the FBI.

Those statements are key evidence in their war crimes trial scheduled to start next year.