Diane E. Beaver
Diane E. Beaver | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, former U.S. Army officer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Legal advisor at Guantanamo Bay detention camp; authoring memorandum endorsing interrogation methods |
Diane E. Beaver is an American attorney and a former officer in the United States Army. In 2001, she held the position of Chief for the Eastern U.S. Torts Branch within the U.S. Army Claims Service. By 2002, Beaver was assigned as a legal advisor at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. As of 2016, she has been engaged in commercial litigation at the Bryan Cave law firm located in St. Louis, Missouri.
Guantánamo experience
During October 2002, while serving with the United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, Beaver authored a legal memorandum endorsing the application of severe interrogation methods at Guantanamo, which included:
- waterboarding;
- exposure to extreme temperature conditions;
- physical contact not causing injury; and
- "scenarios intended to persuade the detainee that death or intense pain is imminent for himself and/or his family."
She recommended that the most severe techniques, categorized as Category II and III, undergo thorough legal evaluation prior to implementation.
In a meeting held in October 2002, Beaver advised military personnel to refrain from subjecting International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) observers to these rigorous methods, warning that their observation might provoke adverse reactions.
Following her tenure in the Army, Beaver transitioned to a role within the United States Department of Defense. On June 17, 2008, she provided testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, affirming her dedication to safeguarding American interests while adhering to legal constraints amid controversies related to her legal assessments.
She concluded her military career with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Beaver was featured in the 2009 documentary The Guantanamo Trap, which focused on her involvement in creating what became known as the "torture memo." The film portrays her as a conservative legal counsel supporting counterterrorism initiatives while confronting intricate ethical and legal dilemmas at Guantanamo.
Education
- Washington University in St. Louis, Juris Doctor, 1987
- Indiana University Bloomington, Bachelor of Arts, 1979