Justice Probe of CIA Actions Closed Without Charges

The department had already dropped most of the cases stemming from accusations that the CIA and other agencies committed abuses against detainees held by the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But Attorney General Eric Holder last year ordered a criminal investigation into two detainee deaths, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, saying new evidence was available.

On Thursday, Mr. Holder said that remaining investigation also would be dropped. "The admissible evidence would not be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt," he said.