Justice Department Narrows Inquiry Into CIA Tactics

Eric Holder continues to take heavy flak from critics who think he should leave the CIA alone, and the Washington Post has news that should give them at least a bit of satisfaction: The Justice Department's preliminary investigation will be smaller than anticipated. The lead investigator will look at only a handful of cases of suspected mistreatment of detainees, sources tell the paper.

Details remain under wraps, but one of them reportedly involves the death of an Afghan detainee at a secret facility near Kabul seven years ago. The prisoner died after being beaten and chained to a cold concrete floor, the Post notes. News of the smaller inquiry comes as seven former CIA directors wrote to President Obama pleading with him to end the investigation.