John L. Helgerson

John L. Helgerson is a long-time official of the United States' most senior intelligence agency, the CIA.[1][2][3] Helgerson was the CIA Inspector General from 2002-2009.[4] Helgerson is a graduate of Saint Olaf College. His Masters and PhD are from Duke University in Political Science.

Before joining the CIA Helgerson was a research associate at the University of Zambia and a Professor at the University of Cincinnati.

Helgerson's tenure since he joined the CIA, in 1971, has been on the research-analytical side, rather than the operational side. His most recent post was Inspector General.

Helgerson drafted a critical review of former director George Tenet's tenure, delivered to the US Congress in September 2005, that recommended "punitive sanctions".[5][6]

In December 2005 press reports quoting unnamed CIA sources state that Helgerson is investigating "erroneous extraordinary renditions" -- that is the extrajudicial kidnapping, for the purpose of extreme interrogation, of suspected enemies, like Maher Arar and Khalid El-Masri, who turned out to be completely innocent.[7][8][9]

In October 2007 it was reported that CIA director Michael Hayden had launched an inquiry into Helgerson's conduct as Inspector General of the CIA.[10]

In 2009, a report John Helgerson had written on CIA interrogations was ordered released by a US judge. That reported described, and strongly criticized the use of harsh interrogation techniques against detainees.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Tenet Names Chairman of the National Intelligence Council; Other Senior Intelligence Posts Announced". CIA. August 3, 2001. https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/press-release-archive-2001/pr08032001.html. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  2. ^ George Tenet (February 28, 2002). "Statement By Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet on the Nomination of John L. Helgerson as CIA Inspector General". CIA. https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/press-release-archive-2002/pr02282002.html. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  3. ^ "CIA Briefings of Presidential Candidates: John L. Helgerson". CIA. https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/cia-briefings-of-presidential-candidates/blurb.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  4. ^ Leon E. Panetta (2009 2 18). "Message from the Director: Inspector General’s Retirement". https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/directors-statement-on-ig-retirement.html. Retrieved 2009 8 25. 
  5. ^ David Fickling (August 26, 2005). "Tenet could face 9/11 reprimand". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/september11/story/0,11209,1557179,00.html. Retrieved 2007-10-10. 
  6. ^ "CIA panel: 9/11 failure warrants action". China Daily. August 26, 2005. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/26/content_472420.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-10. 
  7. ^ Dana Priest (December 4, 2005). "Wrongful Imprisonment: Anatomy of a CIA Mistake: German Citizen Released After Months in 'Rendition'". Washington Post. p. A01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/03/AR2005120301476_pf.html. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  8. ^ "CIA probes renditions of terror suspects". China Daily. December 20, 2005. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-12/28/content_507379.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  9. ^ Brendan Coyne (December 28, 2005). "CIA Self-investigation Only Known Renditions Inquiry". The NewStandard. http://newstandardnews.net/content/?action=show_item&itemid=2712. Retrieved 2007-04-27. 
  10. ^ Mark Mazzetti, Scott Shane (October 12, 2007). "C.I.A. Internal Inquiry Troubling, Lawmakers Say". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/12/washington/12cnd-cia.html?hp. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 
  11. ^ Tom Reid (August 26, 2009). "Ex-CIA official John Helgerson says agents lost control after torture go-ahead". Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6809998.ece. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 

Bibliography