Why the CIA might have to dish more details on drone strikes

An appeals court ruling says the agency can no longer keep quiet about the controversial program

Drones
(Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

A federal appeals court on Friday struck a blow to the government's secrecy surrounding its controversial drone program, reversing a lower court ruling that allowed the CIA to remain silent on whether it had any records related to surreptitious drone attacks.

The three-judge panel unanimously ruled that it was neither "logical nor plausible" for the CIA to refuse to confirm or deny whether it kept records on drone strikes. Top security officials, including former CIA chief Leon Panetta, new CIA director John Brennan and even President Obama himself, have all acknowledged the program's existence, rendering the CIA's defense moot, the court said.

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.