When CIA Director Michael Hayden admitted on 12/7/07 that the CIA destroyed torture tapes in 2005, anonymous sources blamed the head of the CIA’s clandestine service, Jose Rodriguez. But today the New York Times says four top White House lawyers debated the decision: Harriet Miers, John Bellinger, Alberto Gonzales and David Addington. (If you find it hard to keep track of the details, bookmark the outstanding detailed timeline on the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes by Cooperative Research.)

Did these lawyers discuss the issue with their bosses? Miers worked for Karl Rove, Bellinger for Stephen Hadley, Gonzales for Bush, and Addington for Cheney. At least two of these bosses wanted the tapes destroyed.

One former senior intelligence official with direct knowledge of the matter said there had been “vigorous sentiment” among some top White House officials to destroy the tapes.

As we know from all previous White House stories, Dick Cheney always takes the hardest line, so it's an excellent bet that he led the charge for destroying the tapes.

And since a federal judge ordered all torture-related documents preserved, this contempt of court and obstruction of justice would be yet more impeachable offenses against Cheney.