A lawyer for CACI, a military contractor being sued by three survivors of the Abu Ghraib prison, argued that the government, not CACI, is responsible for the alleged torture. The plaintiffs testified to horrific treatment, including beatings, sexual assaults, and being forced to wear women’s underwear. However, CACI’s lawyer claimed that the plaintiffs’ abuse was inflicted by soldiers or unidentified civilians, not CACI employees. The defense also argued that the Army controlled CACI’s interrogators, absolving CACI of liability under the “borrowed servant doctrine.” In contrast, the plaintiffs’ lawyers presented evidence that CACI was responsible for supervising its own employees and that CACI interrogators conspired with military police to “soften up” detainees for interrogation. They also criticized CACI for evading responsibility even after the Army asked it to hold its interrogators accountable. The jury deliberated for three hours before pausing without reaching a verdict. Deliberations are set to resume Wednesday.
CACI Blames Government, Not Itself, for Abu Ghraib Torture Claims
