C.I.A. Tells of Changes for Its Internal Inquiries [View All]

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — After an internal inquiry that put his office under unusual scrutiny, the inspector general of the Central Intelligence Agency has agreed to a series of changes in the way the office conducts its investigations of the agency’s practices, the C.I.A. director confirmed on Thursday in a message to agency employees.

Among the changes announced by the director, Gen. Michael V. Hayden, were new procedures to allow agency officers to lodge complaints against the inspector general’s office, which is an independent auditor over the agency’s internal affairs.

General Hayden said the changes were intended to “heighten the efficiency, assure the quality and increase the transparency of the investigative process.”

The internal inquiry, unusual in its focus on investigators who usually ask the hard questions rather than answering them, had created anxiety among some inside the office of the inspector general, John L. Helgerson, and drew criticism from lawmakers who said the review was inappropriate and could have a chilling effect on inquiries into questionable conduct by the agency.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/washington/02intel.html?_r=1&ex=1359694800&en=c0cc9819ab89f3fa&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin