Rep.: Justice Denied to CIA Attack Victims
The investigation's conclusion and new release of video from the mission re-ignites allegations that the intelligence agency attempted to cover up the incident. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., told ABC News that the United States hasn't provided the missionary family the justice it deserves.
"The [intelligence] community's performance in terms of accountability has been unacceptable," Hoekstra, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told the news station. "These were Americans that were killed with the help of their government, the community covered it up, they delayed investigating."
The CIA investigation found that 16 agency employees should be disciplined, including the head of the counter-narcotics program in 2001. In a statement, the agency directed responsibility to the Peruvian government.
"The program to deny drug traffickers an 'air bridge' ended in 2001 and was run by a foreign government," the CIA said in the statement. "CIA personnel had no authority either to direct or prohibit actions by that government. CIA officers did not shoot down any airplane. In the case of the tragic downing of April 21, 2001, CIA personnel protested the identification of the missionary plane as a suspect drug trafficker.
"This was a tragic episode that the Agency has dealt with in a professional and thorough manner. Unfortunately, some have been willing to twist facts to imply otherwise. In so doing, they do a tremendous disservice to CIA officers, serving and retired, who have risked their lives for America's national security."
A U.S.-Peruvian inquiry found in 2001 that procedural errors, language problems and an overloaded communications system contributed to downing the plane.
Missionaries Jim and Veronica "Roni" Bowers, 7-month-old daughter Charity, 6-year-old son Cory and pilot Kevin Donaldson were in the plane mistaken for a drug courier by Peruvian air force pilots working with a CIA-sponsored surveillance team.
Charity and Veronica Bowers were killed when gunfire ripped through the plane's fuselage. Donaldson's legs were also shot, but he managed to still land the bullet-ridden plane.