A pair of psychologists contracted by the CIA were paid more than $80 million to develop the enhanced interrogation techniques used against al Qaeda suspects, the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on torture reveals. Those techniques included slapping suspects and waterboarding, both deemed "not effective" by the committee.
The psychologists were identified by ABC News in 2009 as former military officers Jim Mitchell and Bruce Jessen. The report states that Mitchell and Jessen did not have experience as interrogators, any specialized knowledge of al Qaeda, or backgrounds in counterterrorism. Their "base contract" with the CIA was "in excess of $180 million," but they received $81 million before their contract was terminated in 2009.
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