A federal appeals court says two American men can go ahead with a civil lawsuit accusing former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of being responsible for the U.S. military allegedly torturing them in Iraq.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled Monday that the defendants, Donald Vance and Nathan Ertel, sufficiently alleged that the former defense secretary authorized the interrogation techniques used against them.
The two men worked for a private security company in Iraq. They claim they were tortured in 2006 after reporting on what they believed to be illegal activities at the company.
They allege they were taken into custody, then held at the U.S. Army's Camp Cropper near Baghdad's airport, where they were subjected to harsh conditions and emotional abuse.
Both men were released from military custody without being charged. U.S. officials have not commented on the court's decision.