A civil trial is currently underway in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, involving allegations against Reston-based military contractor CACI for its role in the abuse of detainees at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison 20 years ago. This is the second trial this year for CACI, with the first trial ending in a mistrial due to a hung jury.
The Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal, which shocked the world in 2003 and 2004, involved civilian interrogators supplied by CACI to assist U.S. military efforts post the invasion of Iraq. While military personnel involved in the abuse were convicted, no criminal charges were brought against CACI interrogators, despite military investigations implicating them in wrongdoing.
The current lawsuit, filed by three former detainees, alleges that CACI interrogators collaborated with military police to mistreat detainees through beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity, and dog attacks to prepare them for questioning.
CACI has consistently denied any wrongdoing, attributing detainee mistreatment to the Army's supervision and control over the civilians it provided. The company argues that its employees were not involved in the abuse and that any misconduct was the Army's responsibility.
Despite CACI's attempts to have the case dismissed, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema has allowed the trial to proceed. Closing arguments are expected to take place on Thursday, with the jury potentially beginning deliberations soon thereafter.
