, leaksmp administration and whistleblowers. Today, i have this message for our friends in the Intelligence Community. The department of justice is open for business and i have this warning for would be leakers. Dont do it. We speak to a former cia analyst who is jailed for almost two years after he became the first cia official to differ to declare publicly the bush administrations use of waterboarding. And the mosque bombing on saturday. Why hasnt trump said a word about what the minnesota governor has described as an act of terrorism . Cowardly, ae, it terrible acts committed yesterday. It was a crime. If the roles were reversed, it would be called a terrorist attack and that is what it is. An act of terrorism. The president has been tweeting up a storm on his vacation but not a word on the mosque bombing. All that and more is coming up. To democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. I am amy goodman. The average temperature in the u. S. Has risen dramatically and the impacts of Climate Change are being felt across the country. The New York Times obtained and published a copy of the unreleased report monday, amid concerns from scientists that the studys findings may be suppressed, changed or censored by the Trump Administration, which has sought to deny the effects and human impacts on Climate Change. The report was conducted by scientists from 13 federal agencies, but it is awaiting the Trump Administrations approval before it an be officially released. It concludes evidence for a changing climate abounds, from the top of the atmosphere to the depths of the oceans. It also conclusively states that human activities, particularly the emissions of greenhouse gases, are the primary driver of Climate Change. The guardians revealed that workers at the u. S. Department of agriculture have been instructed not to use the words Climate Change in their reports. A series of emails show the censorship started immediately after Donald Trumps inauguration. In a january 24 email, a top official at the usda unit that oversees farmers Land Conservation wrote to other senior officials it has become clear one of the previous administrations priority is not consistent with that of the incoming administration. Namely, that priority is Climate Change. Please visit with your staff and make them aware of this shift in perspective within the executive branch. In more climate news, a new study has revealed more than 6 of the worlds gdp is poured into fossil fuel subsidies each year a Staggering Amount of money that tops 5 trillion annually. The study was published in the journal world development. The pentagon is considering launching airstrikes in the philippines against isis militants. Thats according to an nbc news report based on two unnamed defense officials, who say the strikes would likely be carried out by unmanned drones. On monday, secretary of state Rex Tillerson met with philippines president Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of a Regional Security summit in the philippines capital, manila. In syria, the local journalistic group raqqa is being slaughtered silently says up to 18 civilians were killed in u. S. Led Coalition Bombing and artillery shelling in raqqa monday, as the u. S. Backed campaign to seize the city from isis continues. The group also reports parts of the National Hospital in raqqa was destroyed by either the u. S. Led bombing, or u. S. Backed syrian forces. Residents continue to flee the city amid the fighting, although those displaced say the nearby refugee camps lack sufficient and water. The camp is ok but the heat is killing us. The heat is unbelievable. They have given us water and bread but it is not enough. Toi have arrived, i have yet receive anything. That is all i know, we havent been here long. Betweensions continue north korea. North korea is continuing to protest the imposition of dramatic u. N. Sanctions on its primary exports, including coal, iron, and seafood, saying the u. S. Is trying to drive the Korean Peninsula to the brink of nuclear war. This is bang kwang hyuk, north koreas spokesman at the association of Southeast Asian nations summit in the philippines capital, manila. Nuclear possession a threat to the world . Or just a threat to the United States . We want to make it clear that the situation on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the Nuclear Issue were carved by the United States. A news and washington, d. C. , recently resurfaced blog posts show the department of agricultures top scientist, sam clovis, calling progressives race traitors and liars, and calling president obama a socialist supported by criminal dissidents who were bent on overthrowing the government of states. Clovis has also come under fire for lacking the credentials to be the agriculture departments top scientist, given that hes published few peerreviewed Research Papers and denies the human impact on Climate Change. In los angeles, california, longtime u. S. Resident and father of four, romulo avelicagonzalez, has won an emergency stay of deportation, amid a National Campaign demanding he be allowed to stay in the United States. Ice immigration agents arrested him in late february while he was driving his two daughters to school. Immigration advocates fear his arrest signals a shift in ices longstanding policy against conducting enforcement activities at socalled sensitive locations, like schools, churches and hospitals. Speaking from the Adelanto Detention Center in San Bernardino county, avelicagonzalez said every day i wake up knowing that i must be at least half as strong as my children have been in their fight for my freedom. I will never give up fighting for my rights, and for the thets of other immigrants. Board of appeals is say keep you recognize were his right to stay in the United States. Thousands of yemenis and citizens of the five other majoritymuslim countries covered by trumps travel ban are currently stranded in different parts of the world as the state department refuses to honor the fact that they won a u. S. Government immigration lottery earlier this year. Many of the thousands who won the right to apply for a green card through the u. S. Diversity visa program lottery have already sold their homes and cars, left their jobs, and even relocated to djibouti, malaysia and other countries in anticipation of their move to the United States. Their eligibility to receive green cards under the program will end only three days after the travel ban is slated to expire on september 27, meaning their applications will likely not be processed in time. Former state Department Official Stephen Pattison said taking this away from people who have won it is the cruelest possible thing this administration could do. It makes us look petty and cruel as a society. Unquote in kenya, voters are heading to the polls today in a contested election between current president Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister raila odinga. Last week, a senior election official was found murdered and bearing signs of torture, stoking fears of a repeat of the violence after an election 10 years ago, which saw about 1,200 People Killed and more than a halfmillion displaced. On monday night, kenyan president kenyatta urged peace regardless of the votes outcome. Results of this election, we must stand together as one people. Above all, we must reject intimidation. We must reject violence. Were any attempt to divide us. We must not disappoint the founders of this nation. And equally, we must not betray our children. Rwanda, ahile, in landslide election on friday. In russia, two members of the feminist punk group pussy riot were briefly arrested and detained by police in the town of yakutsk after attending a demonstration in support of jailed ukrainian film director , oleg sentsov. The two band members Maria Alyokhina and Olga Borisova were released after hours in Court Without charges later on monday. In india, nearly 2000 Police Attacked a encampment of attacked and encampment of demonstrators protesting the completion of the massive sardar sarovar hydroelectric dam on the Narmada River in central india on monday. At least 12 people were arrested, including prominent activist medha patkar of the National Alliance of peoples movements, who is on an indefinite Hunger Strike against the dam. The nearlycompleted project threatens to submerge the homes and villages of more than 40,000 people. Its faced decades of resistance led by peasant farmers and indigenous advocates who have lived for thousands of years on the land that would be submerged by the mega project. In vancouver, canada, climate activists blockaded trains carrying oil multiple times on monday to protest the construction of the proposed Vancouver Energy oil terminal. Two activists were arrested after dozens lay across the train tracks and some chained themselves to flower pots placed on the tracks. The activists said their protest was in solidarity with the activists arrested at trumps inauguration, who are now facing decades in prison, as well as with catholic workers ruby montoya and jessica reznicek, who sabotaged the Dakota Access pipeline in iowa, delaying construction for weeks. In puerto rico, the federally appointed oversight control board has announced it will slash the pensions for retired workers by up to 25 , and reduce the workday for all public workers, except police, by up to two days a month, as part of the ongoin the unelected financial board. Puerto ricos Governor Ricardo Rossello says he will refuse to implement the latest austerity measures, which are aimed at cutting public spending in order to pay the islands debt to wall street bondholders. But jose carrion, the chair of the financial oversight and management board, says the reduction of work days and pensions will be imposed despite the local governments objections. We dont consider this to be a recommendation. Anwas an integral man integral element. It is not a recommendation. We are asserting what we agreed upon. What we have decided. Washington, ae, judge has clear the way for two military psychologists who helped insight. Than millions of dollars. The lawsuit was brought by Suleiman Abdullah salim, Mohamed Ahmed ben soud, and the family of gul rahman, who froze to death in a secret cia black site. The courtssaid ruling means that for the first time, individuals responsible for the brutal and unlawful cia torture program will face meaningful legal accountability for what they did. Our clients have waited a long time for justice. He said. The trial is now scheduled to open september 5 in spokane, washington. And those are some of the headlines. This is democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. I am amy goodman. Is the Trump Administration trying to silence government scientists from working or talking about Climate Change . It is a growing concern in washington. On monday the guardian reported staff at the u. S. Department of agriculture have been instructed to avoid using the term Climate Change in their work. Meanwhile, the New York Times has published a draft of an alarming government report looking at how Climate Change in is already causing drastic dramatic impact in the United States. Scientists who worked on the study fear the study will be changed or suppressed by the Trump Administration. Amy scientists working inside the government are also being silenced in other ways. We are joined now by joel clement, a senior official within the interior department. Up until recently he focused on the dangers that Climate Change poses to alaska native communities in the arctic. But without explanation clement was recently transferred to a an n unrelated job within the interior department. He now collects royalty checks from oil and gas companies. Clement believes he was targeted for speaking out about Climate Change. He came public with his concerns in the pages of the Washington Post where he wrote a piece titled, im a scientist. Im blowing the whistle on the Trump Administration. According to news reports as many as 50 other senior interior Department Officials have also been reassigned since ryan zinke became head of the department. Joel clement, welcome to democracy now. Can you talk about the action that you took . Joel i took action on the Trump Administration because i believe today retaliated against me for disclosing the fact that these alaskan villages in the arctic are threatened by Climate Change. And my work with the federal government was to try to get that out of the way. What has been the response by the Trump Administration . Joel there has been no response yet. I didnt hear anything before or after the assignment. Could you talk about the directive for your reassignment from your work as a scientist to basically work as an accountant and how that happened . Joel there was no explanation for that. The irony is not lost on me. The intention was to get me to quit. I think that may have been the intention behind many of the reassignments. It goes against a long list of rules and procedures in the federal government. Can you talk about the work you were doing as a scientist, and terms of the conditions in alaska . Joel i was gordon the federal engagement in washington, d. C. The villages in alaska are poised on permafrost that is melting. The islands are no longer locked in place. Villagers in some cases have voted to relocate and others want to get out of harms way. There are evacuation plans that are realistic. My goal and objective in washington is to get the federal act together on helping them do that. It cannot be done without full engagement in washington. You talk about the landmark federal government report that has just been leaked . I found the average temperature in the u. S. Has risen dramatically since the 1980 and that impacts of Climate Change are already being felt . The New York Times obtained and published a copy of the report findingcerns that the may be suppressed, changed or censored by the Trump Administration which has sought to unite Climate Change. This just out today. Joel this is worldclass science. Until my reassignment, i was department of the interior principle for the department. This report is no secret. It has gone through draft form and has been evaluated by the National Academy and other scientific bodies. They wouldcern that suppressed this. Im not surprised that it has gotten out. A long pattern in the Trump Administration with modeling and sidelining scientists. For scientists, the integrity of their work and the integrity of the departments they work for is paramount and this is very worrisome. Amy can you talk about how long this report has been in the making . It came out just a few days after Jeff Sessions held a conversation about uighurs, a top priority of general john kelly, chief of staff of President Trump . Joel this report has been in the works for over a year. These reports that come out of the Global Change Research Program are meticulous and well reviewed. It is a long drafting process. Some say it takes too long and we are being too careful but the fact is, we have to do that and it is important that it is done. This is worldclass work. The guardian has revealed that workers at the department back culture should not use the theirClimate Change in work. A generator 24th email, a top official at the u. S. The eight wrotehat oversees farmers to other senior officials it has become clear that one of the other previous administrations priorities is not consistent administration, namely, Climate Change. Please maker staff aware of this in the executive branch. And you talk about what pressure you have received in terms of work on Climate Change . Joel it is chilling to hear those words. We have been nervous about this. I will say that those of us who and on Climate Adaptation Climate Change resilience issues, we didnt think we would be targeted for this kind of suppression because what were dealing with, there are consequences. The alaskan native communities, there are direct consequences to American Health and safety if it is suppressed and we are forced to step away from the table so it is extremely chilling to hear that the department of interior feels like there is hostility overlooking their shoulders with concern about those who love worked with anything that even sniffs of Climate Change. Couple of forms, a complaint and disclosure of information with the office of special counsel. Thoseyou talk about what filings represent . From your perspective . Joel two filings. One about being retaliated against for disclosing the threat of Climate Change, posing to the alaska native communities. And that is where the consequences, the rubber hits the road, many of us lie awake at night worrying about what will happen in the coming storm system which is upon us in a few weeks. That is a direct concern to the health and safety of americans. The reassignment process. That was unusual and it raised a lot of eyebrows. It appeared clear that they were trying to shake people loose and trying to get people to retire which is not what the procedures are meant to be used for. They are meant to be used to move executives around. We understand that but it isnt retaliating against them. , overall,ou talk about the response of other scientists within the interior we were down in washington on earth day for the march for science. There were many government scientists who were there among the thousands of people, deeply concerned. Wondering specifically about ryan zinke he, from montana who has your department. Did he personally reassign you . It came from the deputy secretary so wasnt a personal reassignment of the secretary does have to sign off on reassignments and there are certainly a lot of concern amongst all federal scientist right now that the incoming leadership is being very hamhanded about how they try to suppress this information. I think it is quite reckless, in fact. I hope there will be others like iswho speak up because this something that has direct consequences for American Health and safety. News from washington, d. C. , a reservist blog post shows that the pic for the department of agriculture, sam clovis, called progressives traders and liars and called president obama a socialist, so ordered by what he said was criminal dissidents, overthrowing the government. He has come under fire for lacking the credentials to be the top scientist, given that he has published few peerreviewed papers and denies Climate Change. I am wondering, your sense on some of the appointee so far to issues in the trump ofinistration, in terms science . Joel i wont speak to qualifications of specific individuals. I think there is a pattern of putting special interests before americans and that his back thing because they are talking about America First but they are putting special interests first and americans last. That is why i am so worried about the consequences for the people in the villages of alaska. Clovis,king more about you dont specifically know him, he was nominated by trump. He was a Fighter Pilot turned defense contractor turned radio host in iowa. A failed u. S. Senate candidate, now i pick for the department of agriculture chief scientist, a , must bethat, by law drawn from scientists with training or experience in agriculture research. I am reading from a political peace. Does this set a trend, joel clement . Joel it is vexing, particularly to scientist in the government to feel that their work is being compromised and suppressed. It is chilling because these are the leaders who are coming in present this to the american public. It is a disturbing trend and hopefully this administration will step back because they are about this. Arent they need to have a close look about what the consequences might be. Superstormthere is a in the arctic and one of these villages gets wiped off the ma p, it is on their watch. What has been the reaction by your fellow scientists . Because you are still working at to the Public Statement that you have made in the past few weeks . Joel a great contrast from those two reactions. I have heard nothing from the white house or leadership but i have heard a groundswell of response from my colleagues in the interior and other agencies, thanking me for speaking up and feeling empowered to do the same should the opportunity present and appreciating the fact that there was a voice out there saying hey, you have rights. To al frankeno go questioning ryan zinke e in june. Could you tell how much government warning scientists predict for the end of this century under a business as usual scenario . ,yan zinke e the paris accord in the president and mine judgment, it was about a bad deal. We spent 3 billion, 1 billion in cash were out of time so can you answer this question . Warningtell me how much government scientists predict for the end of the century . i dont think they predict they predict a range. Andrea to go with science. That is what you said in nearly part of this hearing. He said we had to go with science. And there is agreement among climate scientists about the range of what we have with warming by the end of the century. Do you know what that range is . Ifeveryone here to everyone adhere to the paris climate accord, it would be. 2 degrees which is insignificant, and yet people ignored no, no, no. No. That was what the iodnge would be under the per covered under the agreement. That is not what the change would be at the end of the century if they continued this so you are mixing apples and oranges. Frankhat was al questioning your boss, ryan e. Nke i listened in to that hearing. It is disconcerting to hear leadership talk about that. It is simplistic and poorly talking points. I will say it is heartening for have good minds in congress to take these folks to task. There are three branches of government and there are checks and balances. Hopefully we can trust that to some degree. Because we are concerned on many fronts about the level of leadership that is being brought in during this administration. Week, a senior official resigned from the Environmental Protection agency, citing the Trump Administrations war on science. Business friendly ties. Elizabeth sutherland, a 30 year veteran of the epa ended her at the office of science and technology in a public letter of recommendation letter of recognition. She said temporary triumph. The truth is there. Is no economic crisis caused by Environmental Protection and Climate Change is caused by mans activity. Peopleknow her or other who will be speaking out and resigning . Joel i dont know her. Her knowledge. This is a difficult time. There brought on to keep state running regardless of the administration. Focusing on what is good for americans. There is time when i have talked to many folks who have been through transitions over the past few decades. Attacky dont recall any like this on the quality of their work. It is vexing. A lot of people are certainly doing what elizabeth has done. I hope people stay in their positions. Because this is absolutely key. Without subject Matter Experts and clients, this is a frightening prospect. So i am impressed with her letter and her words. I hope others speak out and many do choose to remain. I know it is very difficult in some situations. But for those that can, i encourage people to. Stick it out because your work and expertise is essential. Of you were the director policy analysis at the u. S. Interior department. What do you do now . Joel i am collecting royalty revenues for the oil revenue. The irony is explicit. I dont think there was any attempt to conceal the fact that they thought i would quit upon being reassigned. You been surprised by the royalties you are collecting . Joel the numbers are staggering. They are scrambling. It is an Excellent Office of people. Do a great job. I have no idea how to do those things so they are trying to integrate aay to Senior Executive into their office. I need to be retrained and it is an extensive process and it is all happening at taxpayer expense. So it is exiting, not just for me and the folks i used to work with, but also the office i am going to. Overall, i think this classifies as a huge mistake and i do see eight as retaliation which is why i blew the whistle on the Trump Administration. Amy will you be suing them . Submit your whistleblower complaints to the office of special counsel and they conduct an investigation. I trust the process. I hope they will then direct the department of interior to put me back in my position. Amy what is your biggest concern about the Trump Administration . Joel suppression. It has been a long pattern of scientists, sidelining experts. Doing so has huge consequences for americans and in my case, the alaska natives. They are fully exposed to storms now that the ice has receded and it will not be limited to alaska natives for long. Right now they are on the front lines but every cultural city, the deserts to the southwest and the farms, getting frequent and biblical deluges, these are direct impact on the health and safety of americans. On ourhis as an assault nations wellbeing and i think that is my biggest concern. Clement. L we will follow what happens to you who is now a Senior Adviser at the department of Natural Resources revenue. We will link to your piece in the Washington Post titled, im a scientist. Im blowing the whistle on the Trump Administration. When we come back, and other whistleblower who spent almost two years in jail and is recently out. He is now out after blowing the whistle on torture. Stay with us. [music break] amy the musk ox by sontag shogan. This is democracy now, democracynow. Org, the war and peace report. I am amy goodman. Juan attorney general Jeff Sessions has promised an administrationwide crackdown on leaks, announcing the fbi has formed a new team specifically focused on investigating potential leaks to the press. The department of justice is open for business. And i have this for the wouldbe leakers. Dont do it. I listened to our career investigators and others and our prosecutors about how to most successfully investigate these matters. At this suggestion, one of the things that we are doing is reviewing policies for media subpoenas. Juan on twitter, trump praised sessions speech, writing after many years of leaks going on in washington, it is great to see the a. G. Taking action for National Security, the tougher the better trumps new chief of staff john kelly also warned staff over the weekend about leaks to the press, although his warning itself was promptly leaked. Amy Civil Liberties and press freedom groups criticized the remarks. A crackdown on leaks is a crackdown on free press and democracy as a whole. For more, we go to washington, d. C. , where were joined now by John Kiriakou. He spent 14 years at the cia as an analyst and case officer. Kiriakou exposed the bushera torture program and became the only official jailed in connection with it. His memoir is titled doing time like a spy how the cia taught me to survive and thrive in prison. John kiriakou, welcome to democracy now we spoke to you when you were under house arrest, after you got out of jail. That, can you respond to the attorney general . Jeff sessions . This isnt about leaks so much as it is about controlling the press. It is the press that the president has a problem with. And another thing that is important in this whole scenario, the Intelligence Community and agencies, the department of defense, they can refer as many leaks as they want to the f ei. That decides if they are worth investigating. Even if they are, they start to decide whether it is worth filing charges. So it doesnt matter how many new leaks are referred to the Justice Department. I think we will see very few actual cases, if any at all. Juan aside for the trends and the constant tweaking, is there any basic or fundamental difference between the way the Trump Administration has been handling leaks and the Obama Administration . John not much. This is it so much a new policy as it is an extension of the Obama Administration policy. Eric holder declared war on the leaks in 2009 and it was the Obama Administration that prosecuted nearly three times as as allaked cases previous administrations combined. So i think that the Trump Administration is more vocal about the intentions but it is an that much of a difference in policy. Amy on sunday, Rod Rosenstein said the department of justice is not targeting journalists. This is what he said on fox news sunday. Rod we are asked the leakers and not the journalists. The people who are committing the crimes. We need to determine who is responsible for the leaks. And hold them responsible. Is your response . Do you believe what the Deputy Attorney general is saying . John i dont. And some that he should tell the attorney general that his deputy is saying that this is not going to be focused on the press when the attorney general himself has said that it will be focused on the press. I think the Justice Department learned a lesson in the jeffrey sterling case, where they try to compel him to case tried to compel them to testify and he refused. He went to the Fourth Circuit court of appeals and lost there. Testify. Refused to finally, the Justice Department backed off. I think the trump Justice Department isnt going to want they will wantf, to make an example of someone who is as highly respected as he is. You have been one of several officials who have talked about the overclassification of materials. Can you elaborate on that . John there is Something Like 3 million classified documents in databases. Most americans dont even realize this but it is actually classifyo over something. My wife and i were in the cia at the same time. If i wanted to have lunch with her, i would send her a message and say, do you want to have lunch . Why did that have to be secret . It is not secret. But everything was classified at the secret level because it was the policy. She would respond sure, i will meet you at 12 00. And it would be classified as secret. Impetus of the new Justice Department announcement, the leak of the transcripts of trump s conversation with the Prime Minister of australia and with the president of mexico, the information in those transcripts wasnt sensitive. It was embarrassing to the president but it had no impact on National Security. So for the administration to say itt was classified or that was National Security information is an overclassification. This is an issue that no one in government has yet addressed and i think the only way that it someoneaddressed is if is arrested for making this information and they fight it by saying it was improperly classified. I think that is the only way we see action. Amy if you ask your wife to meet in the evening, would it be topsecret . [laughter] john exactly. We throw around the classifications like they mean nothing. Used are things called controls, rather than classifications. You can call something sensitive that unclassified or for official use only. Not means they are necessarily classified. Theres a lot of information in government that should have a control but should not the classified. Juan can you give the distinction between leaking and whistleblowing . John whistleblowing is bringing to light any evidence of fraud or threat to Public Health or safety that leaking is just beginning. There are lots of motivations for leakers. Some people like the thrill of speaking with a journalist. Feelpeople like to important. They have this information and they have to share it with somebody. For people like to do it revenge because they are angry with a boss or a president. But leaking is not whistleblowing. They are mutually exclusive. Politicians and the white house leak all the time, dont they . John that is the dirty little secret. It was barack obama before trump. I mighty, many leaks, even say most, come out of the white house. Usually official leaks, where they are meant as trial balloons or a way to influence public policy. Those are never prosecuted. Amy your memoir, doing time like a spy how the cia taught me to survive and thrive in prison. Can you remind us, and for people who dont know the story of John Kiriakou how you ended up spending years in prison . John i gave an interview to brian ross. I said three things. I said that the cia was torturing its prisoners. Torture was an official u. S. Policy, not the report of a rogue cia out the search and i said that the torture policy had been personally approved the president himself. Within 24 hours, the cia filed a report against me and the fbi began investigating me. They did determine i have not committed a crime. What i didnt know was that a month later, when eric holder ,ad been named attorney general the cia asked him to reopen the case against me. In the next three years, they dug deep into my life. They intercepted emails and i was under surveillance and i had no idea that any of that was taking laced. They found any mill that i sent in which a reporter asked me if i would introduce him to someone who would sit for a book he was writing. In my response, i confirmed the last name of a former cia comment who i believed was retired. That was a crime. A violation of the identity act. That i wasnt just charged with that. I was charged with three counts of epic espionage coming out of my original interview and a count of making a false statement which my attorneys and i never understood. I didnt understand what the false statement was. I always believed and my attorneys believed was that my case was not about leaking or revealing the name. He name was never made public it was about whistleblowing. And it was because i aired the cias dirty laundry and that they were torturing visitors. For 23 monthson for violating the Identity Protection act. I am only the second american to ever be charged with that crime and im the only cia officer to everyone as an speaking to the rest. Amy would you do it again . John in a heartbeat. In a heartbeat. The American People have the right to know what the government is doing in their name. And it is illegal to classify a crime. Ibelieved at the time, and still do today, that torture is illegal. To classify the torture Program Program iscret illegal and i stand by that. I wanted to get your response to the latest news. A federal judge has cleared the way for a trialpsychologist g waterboarding. Thansychologists read more 80 million for designing torture Technology Used by the agency. By twosuit was brought survivors of the torture program, along with the family of the man who froze to death in a cia site in afghanistan. Your reaction . John i am thrilled about this lawsuit. I cant believe that both the Obama Administration cia leadership and the trump leadership has allowed this case to go forward. What is truly sickening about this case is that the psychologists in the last two weeks use the example of scientists in nazi germany, who gas thethe gas used to jewish people in concentration camps as part of their difference. They said in nuremberg, the investors of that were not prosecuted because they just taught them how to do it. But that is not true. The scientist that prevented the gas were not prosecuted that the psychologist didnt just create the torture programs, they went overseas to the secret sites and prisons and they were the ones who carried out the torture. They arerankly that very fortunate in that this is not a criminal trial. Because their actions are a violation of the torture act and of the United Nation conventions against torture. So they are lucky that this is only a civil suit. Amy John Kiriakou we want to thank you for being with us. He exposed the bush era torture program and became the only official jailed in connection with this. His memoir is doing time like a spy how the cia taught me to survive and thrive in prison. This is democracy now. Only come back, we go to minneapolis where a mosque was bombed this weekend. Trump has been tweeting up a storm on his vacation but not a of what thehe fact minnesota governor is calling terrorism. Stay with us. [music break] now,here on democracy democracynow. Org and the war and peace report. If you want to sign up for our demoalerts, you can text cracynow to 66866. Juan we end the show in minnesota. Governor mark dayton has condemned as terrorism saturdays attack on the dar alfarooq Islamic Center in minnesota. The explosive device was thrown through the mosque offices window around 5 00 a. M. As people were gathering for morning prayers. No one was injured, but the bombing shattered windows and damaged the office. This is the minnesota governor, mark dayton. Cowardlydayton what a act this was, committed yesterday. It is a crime. Meeting,dy said in the if the roles were reversed, it would be a terror attack. And that is what this is. An act of terror. Amy the fbi had taken over the investigation but President Trump has not said anything about the attack. Since the attack, he is sent out over 25 tweets but not one about the attack. Islamophobic attacks against muslims and mosques across the United States have been rising since President Trump was elected. Minnesota is home to a large somaliamerican community, which has spaced a surge of hate crimes to levels not the aftermath of 9 11. While overall, hate crimes reported by minnesota Law Enforcement agencies have dropped by 25 since 2010, crimes against muslims continued an upward trend. To minneapolis where were joined by mohammed omar, executive director of the Dar Al Farooq center. He was in the mosque when the attack occurred on saturday morning. Thankfully not in his office. Welcome to democracy now can you talk about what happened on saturday . Mohammed around 5 00 a. M. , when we were preparing to go to the first prayer, one of our worshipers was walking from outside to come into the building and he saw a pickup imams office the window. He heard the sound of a broken window. Andan to the scene immediately, the truck and the driver went from the scene. And he sawthe window in the building, he informed us that there was smoke coming from the window. While he was speaking, a very large explosion happened and i was in the building and i thought the whole building was almost collapsing or something huge had happened. We saw that this huge shattered glass. This was the office of our iman. And we called 911 and think god the damage, no one was hurt that the event was awful and i never imagined that we would be bombed bloomington,of where become for our prayer. This is our community center. Our youth and family center. It was very sad to experience that. Juan how many people were in the vicinity at the time . Your mosque received any other threats . Recently . That would give you cause to think that somebody might want to harm the worshipers of the mosque . I would say that we have received some phone calls in the past that have showed some people using bad language uswho are uncomfortable with or they talk to us in a bad way but not really a threat that i would consider where people would come and kill you or do this to you. Again, for the last election season in minnesota, we have seen many incidents and act that were called a hate crime or an action toward some people who walk in in the middle of the night and one of the worshipers were walking by and he experienced a highspeed car next to him and they use bad language. A lot since the last election that not specifically something that i could report to the police and say it was a direct threat. I want to go back to just before election day when candidate donald trump railed against somali immigrants. This is what he said. Trump here in minnesota you see firsthand the problems caused with faulty refugee vetting. With large numbers of Somali Refugees coming into your state without your knowledge. Without your supporter or proof. And for them spreading extremist views all over the world. Honestly, it is hard to believe. Hard to believe. And everybody is reading about the disasters taking place in minnesota. Everyone is reading about it. We dont even have the right to talk about it. We have no idea. Amy that was President Trump on the week of his election. He has not tweeted a word about what the governor has called a terrorist attack on your mosque. Your response to President Trump . Mohammed again, this campaign and rally happened five miles away from our center. B make it fairly clear. Our mosque is located in bloomington. It is located five miles away. Happened, i would say that is what most ignorant that. Would take and see that. Would take and see amy we have to leave announcer julie taboulies is made possible by. 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