[Vision2020] 05-16-04 Breaking AP: Congress Members Told of Abuse Months Before Photos Appeared

Sun, 16 May 2004 16:25:49 -0700

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May 16, 2004

Congress Members Told of Abuse Months Before Photos Appeared
By David Dishneau
Associated Press Writer

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - Two months before pictures of Iraqi prisoner abuse became
public, the family of one accused soldier wrote to 14 members of Congress that
"something went wrong" involving "mistreatment of POWs" at Abu Ghraib prison.
Separately, a suspended Army officer in Iraq wrote to Republican Sen. Arlen
Specter of Pennsylvania that he was being unfairly punished after "pictures of
naked prisoners" were discovered. He sent the letter six weeks before the CBS
program "60 Minutes II" first broadcast photographs of the prisoners on April
28.

The strongest reply any of them got was a note saying what they already knew -
that the Army was investigating, according to documents released last week by
Specter's office and the family of Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Ivan L. "Chip"
Frederick.

Frederick, of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company, faces a general
court-martial on charges of conspiracy to maltreat detainees, dereliction of
duty, maltreatment of detainees and wrongfully committing an indecent act.

In late February, his family sent letters or e-mails to 11 Democrats on the
Senate Armed Services Committee, plus three of their local congressional members
and Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, seeking information on Frederick's status, said
Frederick's uncle, William W. Larson, of Newburg, W.Va.

A Feb. 23 letter from Lawson to Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia
said Frederick was relieved of prison-guard duty without explanation Jan. 14,
two days before the Army publicly announced a criminal investigation of alleged
prisoner mistreatment.

"At some point, something went wrong at the prison related to mistreatment of
POWs," Lawson wrote.

Rockefeller responded on March 2 that the Army could not act on the request
unless it came from Frederick's wife or mother.

Mark Ferrell, a spokesman for Rockefeller, said the letters sent on behalf of
Frederick were "consistent with what had been in the news about a Pentagon
inquiry into prisoner abuse but gave no indication that widespread abuse
existed."

Still, he said, several people on Rockefeller's staff have had telephone
conversations with Lawson since receiving his letter in February.

"The senator is eager to talk to Mr. Lawson and tried to call him last week but
didn't reach him," Ferrell said.

Warner's spokeswoman, Ellen Qualls, said Sunday that the governor's office has
found no record of a letter written by Frederick's family about the former
corrections officer. "I'm unaware of it," Qualls said.

Frederick's mother, Jo Ann Frederick, wrote on Feb. 24 to Sen. Paul Sarbanes,
D-Md., and Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, R-Md.

Sarbanes replied on Feb. 27 that he had "written to the appropriate officials"
and would contact her when he received a reply.

Bartlett forwarded to her a response he received from the Army, saying that
"inquiry into this matter has been initiated."

On March 18, Lt. Col. Jerry Phillabaum, formerly second-in-command at Abu
Ghraib, wrote an e-mail to Specter mentioning "digital pictures of naked
prisoners," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday. At the time, Phillabaum
had been suspended as commander of the 320th Military Police Battalion while
Army investigators probed the alleged abuse. He has since been reprimanded and
relieved of command.

In the letter, Phillabaum sought Specter's help in expediting the investigation
so he could return to his family in Lansdale, Pa.

Specter's office released copies of its electronic correspondence with
Phillabaum and his family last week. In a statement accompanying the e-mails,
Specter's office said it paid little attention to the Abu Ghraib references
because "Phillabaum stated an investigation was underway," the Inquirer
reported.

AP-ES-05-16-04 1858EDT

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGACCD3RBUD.html

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<P>May 16, 2004</P>
<H2>Congress Members Told of Abuse Months Before Photos Appeared</H2>By =
David=20
Dishneau<BR>Associated Press Writer <BR><BR>HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) - Two =
months=20
before pictures of Iraqi prisoner abuse became public, the family of one =
accused=20
soldier wrote to 14 members of Congress that "something went wrong" =
involving=20
"mistreatment of POWs" at Abu Ghraib prison.=20
<P>Separately, a suspended Army officer in Iraq wrote to Republican Sen. =
Arlen=20
Specter of Pennsylvania that he was being unfairly punished after =
"pictures of=20
naked prisoners" were discovered. He sent the letter six weeks before =
the CBS=20
program "60 Minutes II" first broadcast photographs of the prisoners on =
April=20
28.=20
<P>The strongest reply any of them got was a note saying what they =
already knew=20
- that the Army was investigating, according to documents released last =
week by=20
Specter's office and the family of Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Ivan L. =
"Chip"=20
Frederick.=20
<P>Frederick, of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company, faces =
a=20
general court-martial on charges of conspiracy to maltreat detainees,=20
dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees and wrongfully committing =
an=20
indecent act.=20
<P>In late February, his family sent letters or e-mails to 11 Democrats =
on the=20
Senate Armed Services Committee, plus three of their local congressional =
members=20
and Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, seeking information on Frederick's =
status, said=20
Frederick's uncle, William W. Larson, of Newburg, W.Va.=20
<P>A Feb. 23 letter from Lawson to Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV of West =
Virginia=20
said Frederick was relieved of prison-guard duty without explanation =
Jan. 14,=20
two days before the Army publicly announced a criminal investigation of =
alleged=20
prisoner mistreatment.=20
<P>"At some point, something went wrong at the prison related to =
mistreatment of=20
POWs," Lawson wrote.=20
<P>Rockefeller responded on March 2 that the Army could not act on the =
request=20
unless it came from Frederick's wife or mother.=20
<P>Mark Ferrell, a spokesman for Rockefeller, said the letters sent on =
behalf of=20
Frederick were "consistent with what had been in the news about a =
Pentagon=20
inquiry into prisoner abuse but gave no indication that widespread abuse =

existed."=20
Still, he said, several people on Rockefeller's staff have had =
telephone=20
conversations with Lawson since receiving his letter in February.=20
"The senator is eager to talk to Mr. Lawson and tried to call him =
last week=20
but didn't reach him," Ferrell said.=20
Warner's spokeswoman, Ellen Qualls, said Sunday that the governor's =
office=20
has found no record of a letter written by Frederick's family about the =
former=20
corrections officer. "I'm unaware of it," Qualls said.=20
Frederick's mother, Jo Ann Frederick, wrote on Feb. 24 to Sen. Paul =
Sarbanes,=20
D-Md., and Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, R-Md.=20
Sarbanes replied on Feb. 27 that he had "written to the appropriate=20
officials" and would contact her when he received a reply.=20
Bartlett forwarded to her a response he received from the Army, =
saying that=20
"inquiry into this matter has been initiated."=20
On March 18, Lt. Col. Jerry Phillabaum, formerly second-in-command at =
Abu=20
Ghraib, wrote an e-mail to Specter mentioning "digital pictures of naked =

prisoners," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday. At the time, =
Phillabaum=20
had been suspended as commander of the 320th Military Police Battalion =
while=20
Army investigators probed the alleged abuse. He has since been =
reprimanded and=20
relieved of command.=20
In the letter, Phillabaum sought Specter's help in expediting the=20
investigation so he could return to his family in Lansdale, Pa.=20
Specter's office released copies of its electronic correspondence =
with=20
Phillabaum and his family last week. In a statement accompanying the =
e-mails,=20
Specter's office said it paid little attention to the Abu Ghraib =
references=20
because "Phillabaum stated an investigation was underway," the Inquirer=20
reported.=20
AP-ES-05-16-04 1858EDT This story can be found at: <A=20
href=3D"http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGACCD3RBUD.html">http://ap.tbo.com=
/ap/breaking/MGACCD3RBUD.html</A> </DIV></BODY></HTM=
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