Justice Dept. Seeks Delay on C.I.A. Inquiry

The Justice Department asked the House Intelligence Committee on Friday
to postpone its investigation into the destruction of videotapes by the
Central Intelligence Agency in 2005, saying the Congressional inquiry presented “significant risks” to its own preliminary investigation into the matter.
The Justice Department and the C.I.A.’s inspector general have begun a preliminary inquiry into the destruction of the tapes, and Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey said the department would not comply with Congressional requests for information now because of “our interest in avoiding any perception that our law enforcement decisions are subject to political influence.”...
“At my confirmation hearing, I testified that I would act
independently, resist political pressure and ensure that politics plays
no role in cases brought by the Department of Justice,” Mr. Mukasey
wrote in one letter. Accordingly, he went on, “I will not at this time
provide further information in response to your letter.”