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Daniel Jones
Former Senior Investigator, Senate Intelligence Committee
Lead author of the CIA Torture Report
Overview
Daniel Jones is a former senior investigator for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence who served as the primary author of the Committee Study of the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program, commonly known as the "CIA Torture Report." Over six years, Jones led a team that reviewed over 6.3 million pages of CIA documents to produce a 6,700-page report documenting the CIA's use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" and finding that torture was ineffective and that the CIA misled Congress and the White House about its program.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
CIA TORTURE REPORT: Jones led the investigation that produced the 6,700-page study documenting CIA torture, finding that "enhanced interrogation techniques" did not produce actionable intelligence and that the CIA systematically misrepresented the program to Congress, the White House, and the public.
CIA OBSTRUCTION: During the investigation, the CIA was found to have searched Senate computers being used by Jones and his team. CIA Director John Brennan initially denied the searches, then apologized when the Inspector General confirmed them.
CLASSIFICATION BATTLE: The full 6,700-page report remains classified. Only a 525-page executive summary was released in December 2014. Jones fought for broader declassification against CIA and executive branch resistance.
CRIMINAL REFERRAL: After the CIA admitted to searching Senate computers, Jones and his colleagues referred the matter to the DOJ for criminal investigation. No charges were filed against any CIA employees.
POST-SENATE WORK: After leaving the Senate, Jones founded Advance Democracy Inc., a nonpartisan organization that conducts public interest research and investigations.
Related Investigations (1)
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Senate Intelligence Committee: SSCI Study of the CIA's Detention and Interrogation Program (2014)
New York Times: The Senate Investigator Taking on the CIA (2014)
Washington Post: CIA Searched Senate Staff Computers (2014)
Personal Information
Education
- •Georgetown University
- •Johns Hopkins University (MA)
Key Timeline
2007
Joined Senate Intelligence Committee staff
2009-03
Committee votes to investigate CIA detention and interrogation program
2009-2014
Led review of 6.3 million pages of CIA documents over six years
2012-12
Committee approves 6,700-page report on a 9-6 vote
2014-03
CIA admits to searching Senate Intelligence Committee computers
2014-07
CIA Inspector General confirms unauthorized CIA access to Senate computers
2014-12-09
525-page executive summary of Torture Report released publicly
2019
Jones portrayed by Adam Driver in the film The Report