In early 2009, after dedicating two years to an investigation of the 2005 destruction of significant CIA interrogation videotapes, Daniel Jones, a Senate staffer, is chosen by Senator Dianne Feinstein to spearhead an extensive review of six million pages of CIA documents pertaining to the Agency's employment of enhanced interrogation techniques (EITs). Jones and his small team, consisting of just six members, start their crucial work at a highly secure compartmented information facility situated at a covert CIA site in Virginia.
The narrative takes a turn as it revisits the harrowing events of the September 11 attacks in 2001. CIA employees at the Counterterrorist Center (CTC), including Bernadette, alongside other colleagues, anxiously absorb the unfolding events through live broadcasts. In the days that follow at CIA headquarters, DCI George Tenet reports on a significant meeting with President George W. Bush and CTC director Cofer Black, where crucial decisions regarding counterterrorism operations begin to take shape. Notably, legal counsel John Rizzo informs the team that the President has authorized the CIA to "capture and detain suspected terrorists." The following year sees contracted intelligence psychologists, Bruce Jessen and James Elmer Mitchell, trained to implement EITs within the CIA.
As investigations deepen, Daniel faces setbacks when half of his team departs after the Department of Justice (DOJ) initiates its own inquiry into the CIA's practices. Despite this, Jones forges ahead with the help of his remaining colleagues, April and Julian. A pivotal meeting with FBI agent Ali Soufan leads Jones to uncover critical facets of the CIA’s interrogation program, particularly in relation to Abu Zubaydah’s case. The juxtaposition of the FBI's rapport-building methods against the CIA's EITs highlights the moral conflict at play. Bernadette supports the newly adopted techniques, but Soufan asserts that crucial intelligence was gathered from Zubaydah prior to the CIA taking charge of the interrogations.
During a significant briefing in Senator Feinstein's office, Jones presents irrefutable evidence from CIA records that suggest the Agency was aware Zubaydah wasn't an Al-Qaeda operative, contrary to their assertions to the DOJ. This misleading information results in the harsh approval for the use of EITs on Zubaydah, ultimately making him the first detainee subjected to torture.
A clandestine meeting reveals that Raymond Nathan, a physician assistant with the Office of Medical Services, corroborates that medical professionals had voiced concerns over EITs being classified as torture, yet were met with only stern reprimands from upper management. Nathan recounts witnessing Zubaydah’s horrific experience during waterboarding.
As Jones and his team examine the tragic story of Gul Rahman, who succumbed to hypothermia due to CIA interrogation methods, they find themselves grappling with the shocking nature of their findings. Jones shares his discoveries with Senator Feinstein and her aide, Marcy Morris, emphasizing the importance of preventing such incidents from recurring.
Following the release of the astonishing Panetta Review, an internal critique of the EIT program, Jones remains undeterred despite encounters with significant opposition from the CIA. They challenge key findings in the report, claiming no unique intelligence was gained through the application of EITs and highlight the inexperience of contractors Mitchell and Jessen, who received substantial compensation for their controversial methods.
Frustration builds when Senator Mark Udall confronts CIA officials during a hearing, advocating for the integrity of the committee's study. Amid these confrontations, Jones diligently safeguards a copy of the Panetta Review, fearing it could be destroyed similarly to the interrogation videotapes.
When Brennan and the CIA retaliate against Jones for his tenacity, they initiate an unwarranted search of his office, which breaches the separation of powers agreement. In a bid to unveil the truth, Jones discreetly hints to a New York Times journalist about the CIA's misconduct. This leads to public allegations against the agency, spurring courage from Senator Feinstein, who ultimately stands by Jones during a tense confrontation.
As the political landscape shifts with the Republican Party gaining Senate control in the 2014 midterm elections, the urgency intensifies for releasing the report's summary. Senator Feinstein, with the support of John McCain, who poignantly shares his own experiences with torture, delivers a powerful speech outlining the report's implications.
In a stark epilogue delivered through intertitles, it is revealed that after the report's publication, Jones resigned from his position amid an environment where no CIA personnel faced criminal charges for their actions. Alarmingly, many were promoted, with one even ascending to the directorship of the CIA.
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