Despite bilateral agreements to cooperate in criminal investigations, the U.S. Department of Justice has ignored requests from Italian authorities for documents related to the trial-in-absentia of 26 Americans, all but one CIA agents, on charges of kidnapping.
The case stems from the "extraordinary rendition" of a suspected key al Qaeda operative in Italy, known as Abu Omar, who was snatched off a Milan street in 2003 and flown secretly to Egypt for interrogation. Omar, who is now free and remains in Egypt, claims he was tortured and has shown visiting journalists extensive scars on his body.
The Italian prosecutor trying the case, Armando Spataro, has repeatedly asked the Justice Department for information on, and to serve summons on, the charged Americans.
Justice Dept. Ignores Italian Requests in CIA Kidnap Case
But every request has been denied, according to Italian law enforcement sources.
The prosecutor has also faced resistance from his own government.
The Italian Ministry of Justice has refused to forward requests for extradition of the Americans to stand trial.
The U.S. Justice Department's refusal to cooperate has no practical effect on the prosecution of the case, Italian authorities say, which is going forward.
To cooperate with the Italians would be to acknowledge that the CIA had anything to do with the kidnapping, which has been documented by witnesses as well as materials that police discovered in the home of the former CIA representative in Milan, says Matthew Cole, a New York freelance writer working on a book about the case.
"By making anyone available for questioning, the Justice Department would be acknowledging CIA involvement," Cole said by telephone Monday. "They can't do that and deny their involvement."
The Justice Department had no comment in response to a query last week.
The CIA has repeatedly refused to comment publicly on the case.
The prosecutor has also faced resistance from his own government.
The Italian Ministry of Justice has refused to forward requests for extradition of the Americans to stand trial.
The U.S. Justice Department's refusal to cooperate has no practical effect on the prosecution of the case, Italian authorities say, which is going forward.
To cooperate with the Italians would be to acknowledge that the CIA had anything to do with the kidnapping, which has been documented by witnesses as well as materials that police discovered in the home of the former CIA representative in Milan, says Matthew Cole, a New York freelance writer working on a book about the case.
"By making anyone available for questioning, the Justice Department would be acknowledging CIA involvement," Cole said by telephone Monday. "They can't do that and deny their involvement."
The Justice Department had no comment in response to a query last week.
The CIA has repeatedly refused to comment publicly on the case.
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