John Durham ’72, considered one of the nation’s most relentless prosecutors, will lead the high-profile investigation into the destruction of CIA interrogation videos.
As head prosecutor in the probe, the Colgate alumnus becomes a visible figure in a case that’s generating attention around the world.
News of Durham’s appointment by U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey was widely reported this week by media outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and BBC News.
Durham, who currently serves as a federal prosecutor in Connecticut, is highly regarded in the legal community.
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| John Durham ’72 will oversee the investigation into the destruction of CIA videos. (Photo courtesy of the Associated Press) |
“The Justice Department went out and got somebody with complete independence and integrity,” former Connecticut U.S. Attorney Stanley Twardy told the Associated Press. “No politics whatsoever. It’s going to be completely by the book and he’s going to let the chips fall where they may.”
Last month, the CIA acknowledged that in 2005 it destroyed videos of officers using tough interrogation methods on two al-Qaida suspects. Durham will try to determine whether laws were broken. A preliminary inquiry found enough evidence to pursue possible criminal charges.
After receiving a degree from Colgate in 1972, Durham went on to law school at the University of Connecticut. He worked as a local prosecutor in Connecticut before moving to the Department of Justice’s organized crime strike force.
Durham is no stranger to high-profile cases. He gained national prominence following the 1989 murder of Mafia underboss William Grasso, which led to one of the biggest mob takedowns in U.S. history.
Former Attorney General Janet Reno also picked Durham to lead the investigation into the FBI’s use of mob informants in Boston. During that time, Durham was nicknamed “Bull Durham” because of his doggedness as a litigator.
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The Associated Press and other media outlets contributed to this report.