November 11, 2010 1:42PM 

# Destroying Evidence = American Hero 

By [David Rittgers](https://www.cato.org/people/david-rittgers) 

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That’s what the attorney for former CIA officer Jose Rodriguez is [saying about his client](http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2010/11/doj-no-charges-for-cia-videotape-destruction.html). Rodriguez and other CIA personnel destroyed videotapes of detainee interrogations. The Justice Department announced that Rodriguez will not face criminal charges, but [did not elaborate](http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/November/10-ag-1267.html) on the reasoning behind the decision.

Rodriguez’s decision to get rid of the tapes came after White House lawyers, [responding to a court order](http://www.aclu.org/national-security/federal-court-orders-government-release-or-identify-all-documents-related-abuse-de), instructed the CIA [not to destroy any evidence](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704635704575604553831359476.html) associated with detainee interrogations.

I know that the term “[slippery slope](http://www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/slippery.htm)” is overused, but it’s clearly evident here. Thwart the rule of law by declaring torture legal, thwart it again to cover up your actions.

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy), [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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