US intel chief faces grilling amid torture claims

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The CIA chief was grilled by US lawmakers Tuesday over the destruction of interrogation videos, as the White House insisted that the United States does not practice torture.

Michael Hayden was being questioned behind closed doors by members of the Senate Intelligence Committee about his revelation last week that tapes made in 2002 were destroyed in 2005, when Congress was investigating allegations that terror suspects were tortured.

"I'm very delighted to come on down and lay out the facts as we know them," Hayden said before the encounter. A similar hearing was to follow Wednesday before members of the lower House of Representatives.

Pressed by reporters at the White House, spokeswoman Dana Perino refused to comment on what methods are...