Former CIA officer John Kiriakou appeared as a guest on the program “Judging Freedom,” hosted by Judge Andrew Napolitano, to offer a searing critique of the US intelligence community’s legal boundaries and its controversial operational history.
Kiriakou asserted that while CIA officers swear an oath to protect the Constitution upon entering service, many fail to uphold that commitment. Recalling his first day at the agency, Kiriakou remarked: “When I stood with about 300 others and raised my hand to swear to protect the Constitution, I had to conclude that I was the only one there who truly meant it.”
In 2002, Kiriakou was asked if he wished to be trained in “enhanced interrogation techniques.” He recounted identifying the initiative as a torture program and stating it was illegal. According to Kiriakou, officials responded by saying, “It’s not illegal; the President approved it and the Department of Justice authorized it.” He emphasized that he was the only member of a 14-person team to refuse the offer.
Addressing the assassination programs conducted during the Obama administration, Kiriakou described how then-CIA Director John Brennan met with White House and Department of Justice officials every Tuesday morning to finalize a list of individuals to be killed that week.
Kiriakou described the process in stark terms: “Once the names were agreed upon, teams would deploy across the globe to carry out the assassinations, only to reconvene for the following week’s list.”
He also touched upon the practice of “extraordinary rendition,” reminding viewers that sending suspects to countries where they are known to face torture is illegal. Citing the example of a Tunisian suspect captured in Afghanistan and rendered to Egypt, Kiriakou argued that such practices lack any legitimate legal foundation.
Regarding the recent unrest and street demonstrations in Iran, Kiriakou contended that these events are the result of a joint CIA and Mossad operation. Referencing public statements made by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Kiriakou stated, “We know this is a Mossad-CIA operation thanks to Pompeo’s own comments.”
Kiriakou noted that while the CIA does not typically maintain personnel on the ground, Mossad has an extensive field presence. He alleged that both agencies work in close cooperation with the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK). He reminded the audience that the MEK had previously attempted to assassinate a US ambassador and was once designated as a terrorist organization before being removed from the list in 2009 during Hillary Clinton’s tenure.
Kiriakou also highlighted the organization’s lobbying efforts in Washington, noting that “everyone from Rudy Giuliani to Howard Dean began lobbying for the MEK.”
Commenting on the burning of mosques and fire trucks during the Iranian demonstrations, Kiriakou argued these actions do not align with demands for democracy. “If you are demonstrating for democracy and freedom, why would you set fire to mosques and fire engines? Mossad and the CIA want chaos in Iran,” he evaluated.
The program also addressed remarks by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent regarding the devaluation of the Iranian Rial. Evaluating Bessent’s admission that economic chaos was being used to trigger street protests, Kiriakou stated such actions fall under “covert action,” which requires presidential authorization.
“To implement a plan of this nature, one needs a ‘finding’—a document of authorization signed by the CIA General Counsel, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel, the National Security Council, and ultimately the President,” Kiriakou explained.
Turning to Israeli operational methods, Kiriakou claimed that Mossad utilizes Afghan refugees in Iran for intelligence gathering. “The Israelis take Afghan refugees who are in desperate straits and have no access to state services, paying them $200 a month to carry out surveillance tasks,” he alleged.
In response to questions about whether Saudi Arabia possesses nuclear weapons, Kiriakou cited information from the legendary CIA operations officer Duane Clarridge.
Kiriakou stated that Saudi Arabia financed Pakistan’s nuclear program. “The Saudis provided the money the Pakistanis needed to develop a nuclear bomb as a counterweight to India. In return, I assume the Pakistanis have shared those bombs with the Saudis,” he said. While it remains unclear if Saudi Arabia possesses a missile system capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Kiriakou emphasized that their access to nuclear weapons is highly probable.
Evaluating the links between Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua and the influx of cocaine into the US during the 1980s, Kiriakou stated that the CIA’s role in this process is documented.
He noted that while the CIA armed Contra groups in the north, groups in the south were smuggling Colombian cocaine into the US, and the agency, at the very least, turned a blind eye to the traffic. Rejecting claims by his former colleague Jack Devine that the CIA was not involved in the drug trade, Kiriakou countered: “I believe Jack Devine is mistaken. The evidence shows the CIA facilitated the importation of cocaine.”
Kiriakou argued that Congressional oversight of the CIA has weakened significantly since the 1980s, signaling the end of the era defined by the Church and Pike Committees (1975–1982). He suggested that current intelligence committees act more as supporters of the agency than as overseers. “The CIA pushes the boundaries until someone pushes back. If no one resists, they gain new ground and they never give it back,” he remarked.
Finally, commenting on newly surfaced documents regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case, Kiriakou noted that the possibility of Epstein having ties to the CIA has strengthened. Kiriakou mentioned that Epstein’s lawyers had approached the CIA to confirm a relationship between Epstein and the agency, though no response was given.
“Epstein was seeking a role with the CIA, and it appears he had similar relationships with MI6 and the Israelis,” Kiriakou concluded.
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