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CIA Told Pelosi About Waterboarding: Report

Newly released documents show speaker was briefed in 2002

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted May 8, 2009 6:16 AM CDT

(Newser) – Nancy Pelosi and other Congressional leaders received multiple briefings on the CIA's use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques, according to new information released by the Obama administration. Records suggest that Pelosi learned of the CIA's interrogation of Abu Zubaydah in a September 2002 briefing that covered the "particular" methods employed. He had been waterboarded 83 times the previous month, but the speaker has repeatedly said she was never told that waterboarding was used.

As the Los Angeles Times reports, the records were released at the request of Congressional Republicans, who have accused Democratic colleagues of hypocrisy for blasting the Bush administration's use of techniques widely considered torture. The records also show that Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia senator who has repeatedly criticized the CIA's interrogation program, was briefed in 2003 on "how the waterboard was used."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 6, 2009.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pauses during a news conference about the Obama administrations first 100 days on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, in Washington.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pauses during a news conference about the Obama administrations first 100 days on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, in Washington.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
In this Jan. 21, 2009 file photo, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.  Rockefeller plans to demand answers Tuesday from the chief executives of UnitedHealthGroup Inc. and its subsidiary Ingenix, a claims database used by...
In this Jan. 21, 2009 file photo, Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rockefeller plans...   (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Newly released documents attest that Nancy Pelosi, then House minority leader, learned about the particular methods used in the CIA interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, who was waterboarded 83 times.
Newly released documents attest that Nancy Pelosi, then House minority leader, learned about the "particular" methods used in the CIA interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, who was waterboarded 83 times.   (AP Photo/U.S. Central Command, File)
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Speaker Nancy Pelosi categorically denies that she was told waterboarding was used on Abu Zubaydah in a 2002 CIA briefing.   (RenalJim)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Mad
May 9, 2009 12:31 PM CDT
Ever notice, it's only Republicans that insist "both parties suck, both parties are corrupt". Buy a clue Cons, you are just now awakening to the filth of your party, yet you hatred of fellow Americans (Liberals) remains
Robert_Dada
May 8, 2009 12:21 PM CDT
Had a feeling this would happen. Not very good Nancy and Jay.
Robert_Dada
May 8, 2009 9:40 AM CDT
I didn't.

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