The New York Times reported on Sunday on profession liability policies available to CIA employees through Wright and Company. The polices are becoming increasingly important while the investigation of the destruction of the interrogation videotapes heats up.
The standard policy costs $300 annually, with the government typically paying half the premiums for all supervisors and other high-risk employees. The policy provides up to $200,000 in defense costs for administrative matters such as Congressional investigations. An additional $100,000 is available for defense costs in criminal investigations, and the policy covers up to $1 million in liability.
The 2006 Military Commissions Act requires the government to pay for defense costs for CIA employees and military officers facing civil suits or criminal investigations for “authorized” actions involving detention of suspected terrorists. Coverage under the Act for the destruction of the videotapes is unclear.
