Former CIA station chief accused of rape
WASHINGTON - The U.S. government is investigating a former CIA officer in Algeria who has been accused of drugging and raping two women while he held the post, according to an affidavit released by the Justice Department.
Andrew Warren has been accused by the women, who are both Algerian nationals, of drugging and raping them on separate occasions while he was still working for the CIA in the Algerian capital, according to the court document, which was filed in the fall of 2008.
Warren has not been charged with a crime. He has told investigators that he engaged in "consensual sexual intercourse" with both accusers, the affidavit states.
CNN has been unable to reach Warren for comment.
According to the affidavit, a search of Warren's residence in Algiers turned up Xanax, Valium, and "a handbook on the investigation of sexual assaults," according to the affidavit.
Soon after the allegations were made, Warren came back to the United States in October for a previously scheduled trip and was ordered not to return to his post, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.
A State Department investigator who interviewed Warren said he was cooperative and voluntarily surrendered his cell phone and digital camera, which had photos of the two women along with several others, the affidavit stated.
But Warren would not agree to hand over his personal computer, on which he has admitted there may be photos of the two women. The affidavit was filed in October to get access to that computer.
"I have probable cause to believe that evidence of Warren's sexual assaults may be stored on Warren's laptop computer," the sworn officer in the affidavit states.
Both the State and Justice Departments are involved in the investigation, according to a source with knowledge of the probe. The investigation includes Warren's time in Algeria and his previous post in Cairo, Egypt, as well as other locations to which he traveled, the source said.
The first alleged rape happened in September 2007, around the same time Warren took the post in ALGERIA, according to the court document. The woman came forward in June 2008. The second woman came forward three months later, saying she had been sexually assaulted in February 2008.
The Justice Department and CIA would not comment on the allegations or any investigation.
"I can assure you that the agency would take seriously and follow up any allegations of impropriety," CIA spokesman Mark Mansfield said.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told CNN that he is aware of the reports, but had very little information.
"They're very serious allegations and ... they will be looked into and investigated properly," Gibbs said Thursday.
When the allegations first surfaced, they were viewed as "tremendously explosive, no doubt about that," the source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN, especially because Algeria is a Muslim country.
The Algerian ambassador to the United States, Abdallah Baali, told CNN that the Algerian government is being kept informed of the investigation by U.S. authorities. He said Algeria has been given "full assurances that the investigation will get to the bottom of these allegations, and if this individual is found guilty he will be prosecuted" to the fullest extent of the law.
"We trust the American authorities," Baali said. "We have no reason to doubt the rule of law will be followed."
Baali said the incident was "regrettable" but will not affect ties between the United States and Algeria. He said the Algerian government is interested in continuing its cooperative relationship with the United States.
One federal law enforcement source said no developments or activities relating to the case are "imminent."
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