The CIA destroyed 92 tapes of terror interrogations, according to new documents, far more than had previously been acknowledged.

The figure was revealed as part of an ongoing lawsuit in New York involving the American Civil Liberties Union. This is the first time a figure has been established in connection with the destroyed tapes, which showed enhanced interrogation techniques including water-boarding.

The acknowledgment of dozens of destroyed tapes came in a letter filed by government lawyers in New York, where the ACLU filed the suit seeking more details of terror interrogation programs.

“The CIA can now identify the number of videotapes that were destroyed,” said the letter by Acting U.S. Attorney Lev Dassin. “Ninety two videotapes were destroyed.”

An official with the ACLU said the revelation “confirms that the CIA engaged in a systemic attempt to hide evidence of their own illegal conduct.”

The official also said that the tapes’ destruction shows that the CIA was evading a court’s order to produce materials and documents related to CIA interrogations. The ACLU has been asking since December 2007 that the court find the CIA in contempt of court.

(Source: Fox News)