John Adams Project
Encyclopedia
The John Adams Project was established by the American Civil Liberties Union
and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
to "support military counsel at Guantanamo Bay." The United States government has detained
hundreds of men at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp following the September 11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan
.
On November 13, 2009, with the U.S. Justice Department's announcement that the cases for five high value detainees will be transferred to federal court, the ACLU announced that the John Adams Project will be formally discontinued.
yers associated with the project had shown pictures of Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) officers to their clients, Guantanamo captives.
The captives were among the "high value detainee" program who had spent years in secret CIA interrogation centers.
The Justice Department is currently investigating the activities to determine if any laws were violated.
The photos were taken of the CIA officers when they were in public.
Joshua Dratel, one of the officers of the Project, defended the actions of the attorneys saying “If you get information in the public record, it doesn’t become classified just because the government feels it is embarrassing or that they would prefer you not to show it to anyone. There is no prohibition on gathering public-source information and showing it to your client.”
Those who disagree with Dratel argue that the issue isn't the government classifying as secret something embarrassing, rather that the identity of CIA officers is already classified, and that taking photographs of CIA officers and showing them to the Guantanamo internees creates a security risk and is an act of treason
.
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is an American criminal defense organization. Their stated mission is to "Ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime. Foster the integrity, independence and expertise of the criminal defense profession...
to "support military counsel at Guantanamo Bay." The United States government has detained
Detention (imprisonment)
Detention is the process when a state, government or citizen lawfully holds a person by removing their freedom of liberty at that time. This can be due to criminal charges being raised against the individual as part of a prosecution or to protect a person or property...
hundreds of men at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp following the September 11 attacks and the war in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
.
On November 13, 2009, with the U.S. Justice Department's announcement that the cases for five high value detainees will be transferred to federal court, the ACLU announced that the John Adams Project will be formally discontinued.
CIA photos controversy
In August 2009 claims were made that three military lawMilitary law
Military justice is the body of laws and procedures governing members of the armed forces. Many states have separate and distinct bodies of law that govern the conduct of members of their armed forces. Some states use special judicial and other arrangements to enforce those laws, while others use...
yers associated with the project had shown pictures of Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
(CIA) officers to their clients, Guantanamo captives.
The captives were among the "high value detainee" program who had spent years in secret CIA interrogation centers.
The Justice Department is currently investigating the activities to determine if any laws were violated.
The photos were taken of the CIA officers when they were in public.
Joshua Dratel, one of the officers of the Project, defended the actions of the attorneys saying “If you get information in the public record, it doesn’t become classified just because the government feels it is embarrassing or that they would prefer you not to show it to anyone. There is no prohibition on gathering public-source information and showing it to your client.”
Those who disagree with Dratel argue that the issue isn't the government classifying as secret something embarrassing, rather that the identity of CIA officers is already classified, and that taking photographs of CIA officers and showing them to the Guantanamo internees creates a security risk and is an act of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
.