I can only imagine the chilling effect this must have on the CIA operatives working in the field trying to stop the next jihadist terror attack.

(Fox News) — The Justice Department is moving forward with criminal investigations relating to CIA interrogations of two detainees who died in the agency’s custody.

The decision, announced Thursday by Attorney General Eric Holder, is the result of a nearly two-year preliminary review into the Bush-era interrogations by prosecutor John Durham. Though the secretive probe has drawn fierce criticism from Republicans since it began, Holder reiterated Thursday that he will not abandon it.

In a statement, Holder said the review looked mostly at “whether any unauthorized interrogation techniques were used by CIA interrogators, and if so, whether such techniques could constitute violations of the torture statute or any other applicable statute.”

Though the review now triggers a full investigation into two deaths, Holder indicated Justice would drop its review of the other cases.

“Mr. Durham and his team reviewed a tremendous volume of information pertaining to the detainees. . . . Mr. Durham has advised me of the results of his investigation, and I have accepted his recommendation to conduct a full criminal investigation regarding the death in custody of two individuals. Those investigations are ongoing,” Holder said. “The department has determined that an expanded criminal investigation of the remaining matters is not warranted.”

The investigation into CIA practices, first announced in August 2009, outraged some lawmakers concerned about the precedent the Obama administration could set by investigating the war-time actions of its predecessor. Republican lawmakers revived calls to drop the probe altogether after Usama bin Laden was killed in a CIA-led raid in Pakistan, claiming Bush-era interrogations played a part in tracking him down.