Congress Investigates Secret CIA Program

The House Intelligence Committee announced today it will formally investigate the CIA's concealment from Congress of an anti-terrorist program authorized by former Vice President Dick Cheney. CIA Director Leon Panetta recently quashed the program, which involved an effort to capture or kill al Qaeda operatives overseas and was authorized by President Bush after 9/11. The investigation, Democratic Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes said in a statement, will look into “whether there was any past decision or direction to withhold information from the committee" about the intelligence program, which the CIA says was never operational. Republicans argue that the investigation is meant to shield Nancy Pelosi from accusations she was informed about CIA "enhanced interrogation" tactics. Democrats have formerly said the investigation would look into the CIA's possible violation of the National Security Act, which could result in criminal charges.