The American Psychological Association is protecting one of its members from formal rebuke for his role in torturing a Guantanamo Bay inmate.

The esteemed professional association stated in a December 31 confidential letter, obtained by Guardian reporters and released publicly on Wednesday, that it is declining to rebuke member John Leso.

"[W]e have determined that we cannot proceed in this matter," write APA officials in response to a complaint. "Consequently, the complaint against Dr. Leso has been closed."

Leso, a former Army reserve major, participated in the brutal interrogation of detainee Mohammed al-Qahtani that even a Pentagon official acknowledged amounts to torture, reports Spencer Ackerman for The Guardian.

Ackerman continues:

Leso was identified as “MAJ L” in a leaked log, published by Time magazine in 2005, of Qahtani’s marathon interrogation in November 2002. With Leso recorded as present for at least some of the session, Qahtani was forcibly hydrated through intravenous drips and prevented from using the bathroom until he urinated on himself, subjected to loud music, and repeatedly kept awake while being “told he can go to sleep when he tells the truth”.

In the letter, the APA officials do not deny Leso's participation in the torture.

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