A BBC presenter had to point out she never ran a torture black site for the CIA

The head of a Human Rights Watch committed something of a social faux pas on Monday when he mistook a BBC journalist for a CIA operative in charge of torture ‘black sites’.

Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch made the accusation and then tweeted a link to an article, which featured a picture of broadcaster Emily Maitlis - who definitely isn’t a CIA torturer.

(Alternatively, Roth has just blown our media lizard illuminati conspiracy wide open, and we’ll be seeing you).

Of all the people Trump could have picked as deputy CIA director, he chosen woman who ran CIA black site for torture.

Picture: @KenRoth/Twitter

Of course! "M" of James Bond clearly stands for 'Maitlis'.

Anywho.

The journalist, who has reported for NBC Asia, Channel 4, Sky News and the BBC responded.

Erm. This is me. And I’m pretty sure I never ran a CIA black site for torture.. #Newsnight

Emily Maitlis issues a denial/cover story

Sure Emily. Whatever you say.

Roth's original tweet has since been deleted. He apologised twice.

Andrew Stroehlein, the European media director for Human Rights Watch also apologised on behalf of the organisation.

Speaking to indy100 Stroehlein said:

I'm glad the Newsnight team took a light-hearted approach to it. I think everyone realises that the real story here is not a fumbled tweet, but the fact that the Trump administration has just hired a person known for overseeing torture.

Black sites

‘Black sites’ are places located outside of international jurisdiction or the jurisdiction of the US, which have been used in the past to torture. Black sites are so named because of the absence of legal oversight and scrutiny.

Roth was in fact referring to the appointment of Gina Haspel.

According to the New York Times, Haspel, a CIA operative since 1985 previously ran Cat’s Eye.

It was the first known ‘black site’ which operated in Thailand, where the water boarding technique is reported to having taken place.

President Trump had previously advocated the use of torture - but in a press conference following his inauguration, he stated that although he believed in its efficacy he would defer to his secretary of defense James Mattis who does not believe in its use.

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