The New York Times has revealed the Justice Department under former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales issued a series of secret legal opinions effectively sanctioning the use of torture. The first opinion came shortly after Gonzales arrived in February 2005. Just months earlier, the Justice Department had publicly declared torture “abhorrent.” But the secret opinion under Gonzales gave a green light to a series of harsh interrogation tactics including head slapping, simulated drowning and frigid temperatures. At the time, outgoing Deputy Attorney General James Comey said the department would be “ashamed” when the opinion was publicly revealed. Less than one year later, the Justice Department issued another secret opinion declaring that no CIA techniques violated proposed laws banning “cruel, inhuman and degrading” treatment. The New York Times also reports the harshness of the approved tactics was so unprecedented that agents in secret CIA prisons overseas repeatedly asked Washington lawyers what was allowed. New details have also come out about the interrogation of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Insiders say Mohammed gave several “exaggerated or false statements” after some 100 harsh tactics were used over a two-week period.