© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gitmo Translator's Past At CIA Throws Wrench In Sept. 11 Trial

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

On this program Monday, we told you about a remarkable encounter in the courtroom at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It involved the men charged with plotting and carrying out the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One of the men pointed at a court interpreter and said he had seen him before at a secret CIA prison where the defendant had been brutally interrogated. Today, government prosecutors addressed that claim. NPR's David Welna was there and has the report.

DAVID WELNA, BYLINE: Chief Prosecutor General Mark Martins told the war court this morning that the new interpreter once did work for the CIA. What's more, a senior official here said the interpreter had done so at a time when more than one of the 9/11 defendants might actually have encountered him, which raised the question - how had the interpreter ended up on one of the defense teams?

General Martins told the court he determined the interpreter had not been planted by quote, "any executive branch agency," an assertion the defense attorney Cheryl Bormann labeled an out-and-out falsehood. She said this latest incident had in her words so decimated any trust on this team we can't go forward.

Prosecutors called it the responsibility of the defense team to check out the background of anyone they hire. But defense lawyers say they did ask the interpreter whether he had ever worked for the CIA or been involved in interrogation sessions, and he said he had not. They have now asked the judge to compel that interpreter to answer questions they have. And they do not want him allowed to leave Guantanamo until they've had a chance to do so. David Welna, NPR News, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

David Welna is NPR's national security correspondent.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.