The repeated waterboarding of admitted 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed could imperil a new effort to convict him in civilian court, experts said yesterday.
Mohammed was subjected to the technique — in which water is poured over one’s face to create the sensation of drowning — 183 times in 2003 while in captivity at Guantanamo Bay.
Defense lawyers could seek to have the case or at least evidence obtained through the since-banned technique tossed out.
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“I’m sure it will be raised by Mohammed’s lawyers,” said Gerald Zerkin, the federal defender who represented the so-called “20th hijacker,” Zacarias Moussaoui. “. . . We know the nature of the interrogation is going to create issues.”
Former Justice Department official Pat Rowan downplayed such concerns, telling The Associated Press that “they won’t need to use any coerced confessions in order to demonstrate guilt.”