Bruce Jessen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Fort Bragg
. Captain Michael Kearns, Psychologist Bruce Jessen (right)

John Bruce Jessen (born July 28, 1949)

Mitchell Jessen and Associates, earned US$81 million for its work.[4]

Career

Jessen attended then-Ricks College, now

Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho. He graduated cum laude from Utah State University in 1974, where he majored in psychology. He earned his PhD in psychology, with an emphasis in professional-scientific psychology, from Utah State University in 1979. During that time he was commissioned in the Air Force and completed an internship in clinical psychology at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.[5]

A United States Air Force retiree, Jessen, along with James Mitchell, was hired in 2002 by the Central Intelligence Agency to design the so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques" program.[6][7] The objectives of the program were not merely to obtain intelligence, but to also break down detainees in order to get them to be compliant and submissive to authority.[8]

In 2005, Jessen and Mitchell formed a company called

Spokane and Virginia.[9]

On October 15, 2012, Jessen was sustained as bishop of the Spokane 6th Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.[10] He resigned as bishop one week later.[11]

Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture

Main article: Senate Intelligence Committee report on CIA torture
The US Senate Report on CIA Detention Interrogation Program that details the use of torture during CIA detention and interrogation.

On December 9, 2014, the

John Rizzo, CIA acting general counsel, described in his book Company Man, that the techniques were "sadistic and terrifying."[13]

Lawsuit

In 2014, The New York Times Editorial board called for the investigation and prosecution of Mitchell and Jessen for their role in developing the torture practices used by the CIA.[14] In 2015, Human Rights Watch called for the prosecution of Jessen "for [his] alleged direct participation in torture, often applied in ways beyond how it was authorized, but also for [his] role in the initial conspiracy to torture as well."[15]

On October 13, 2015, the

Justin Lowe Quackenbush denied both parties' motions for summary judgment, noted that the defendants are indemnified by the United States government, and encouraged the attorneys to reach a settlement before trial.[19] A settlement was reached in August 2017.[20]

Depiction in media

Jessen was portrayed in the 2019 film The Report by T. Ryder Smith.

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. Public Records Index, Vols. 1 & 2 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
  2. ISBN 978-1101906842
    .
  3. ^ Kaye, Jeff (August 25, 2009). "Roger Aldrich, the Al Qaeda Manual, and the Origins of Mitchell-Jessen". American Torture. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015 – via Firedoglake.
  4. ^ "'Flat Wrong': Big-Bucks Torture Teacher Slams CIA Report". NBC News.
  5. ^ Hagadone, Zach (June 17, 2015). "The Silent Partner: How an eastern Idaho farm boy became a contract torturer". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  6. ^ Shane, Scott (August 11, 2009). "Interrogation Inc. - 2 U.S. Architects of Harsh Tactics in 9/11's Wake". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  7. ^ "Report of the Committee on Armed Services United States Senate – Inquiry into the Treatment of Detainees in U.S. Custody April 22, 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 29, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  8. ^ Leopold, Jason; Kaye, Jeffrey (March 22, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: CIA Psychologist's Notes Reveal True Purpose Behind Bush's Torture Program". Truthout. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Benjamin, Mark; Eban, Katherine; Steele, Karen Dorn (April 21, 2009). "The Story of Mitchell Jessen & Associates: How a Psychologists Helped Develop CIA Torture Techniques". Democracy Now! (Interview). Interviewed by Amy Goodman.
  10. ^ Camden, Jim (October 18, 2012). "Mormon church appointee aided CIA on terror". The Spokesman-Review.
  11. ^ Brooks, Joanna (October 23, 2012). "Does Romney's Religion Condone Torture?". Religion Dispatches.
  12. ^ United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (December 9, 2014). "The Senate Committee's Report on the C.I.A.'s Use of Torture" – via NYTimes.com.
  13. ^ Windrem, Robert (December 9, 2014). "CIA Paid Torture Teachers More Than $80 Million". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Prosecute Torturers and Their Bosses". The New York Times. December 21, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  15. ^ "No More Excuses: A Roadmap to Justice for CIA Torture". hrw.org. Human Rights Watch. December 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  16. ^ McLaughlin, Jenna (October 13, 2015). "Former U.S. Detainees Sue Psychologists Responsible For CIA Torture Program". Intercept. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  17. ^ "Salim v. Mitchell - Complaint". October 15, 2015.
  18. ^ Nicholas Geranios (January 20, 2017). "Judge hints at trial for harsh interrogation suit". The Register-Guard. Associated Press. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  19. ^ Fink, Sheri (July 29, 2017). "2 Psychologists in C.I.A. Interrogations Can Face Trial, Judge Rules". The New York Times. p. A18. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
  20. ^ Fink, Sheri (August 17, 2017). "2 Settlement Reached in C.I.A. Torture Case". The New York Times. p. A12. Retrieved March 13, 2018.

External links

Media related to Bruce Jessen at Wikimedia Commons

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