Democrats letter claims CIA misled Congress

Washington, July 9 (ANI): A letter released late Wednesday by six Democratic House members claims that Central Intelligence Agency Director Leon Panetta testified that "top CIA officials have concealed significant actions... and misled" members of Congress since 2001 - a claim the CIA is contesting.

According to Politico, the letter did not specify what actions were concealed, or how members of Congress were misled.

In it, the Democrats demanded that Panetta correct a statement he issued on May 15 - just after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the CIA of misleading her during the Bush years about the agency's use of water boarding techniques - stating that it is not the CIA's "policy or practice to mislead Congress."

CIA spokesman George Little told the Washington Independent late Wednesday, said the claim that Panetta admitted his agency has misled Congress is "completely wrong." He added, "Director Panetta stands by his May 15 statement."

The letter was signed on June 26 by Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.), John Tierney (D-Mass.), Rush Holt (D-N.J.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.) and Jan Schakowsky (D- Ill.) - all of whom serve on the House Intelligence Committee.

If that claim is borne out, it would offer a measure of vindication to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has been under constant fire since claiming in April that the agency misled Congress about water boarding. (ANI)