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Pelosi: CIA Misled Me on Waterboarding

By the Associated Press

Posted May 14, 2009 10:55 AM CDT

(AP) – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said today she was not complicit in the government’s decision to waterboard terrorist suspects, and she claimed the CIA misled her about whether the interrogation technique considered torture by many was being used. “To the contrary … we were told explicitly that waterboarding was not being used,” the California Democrat said of a formal CIA briefing she received in fall 2002.

In 2003, she said, she was informed that senior lawmakers had been briefed on use of the method, but she was not included. In a 2002 briefing, officials referred to legal opinions saying that harsh interrogation techniques could be used, Pelosi said, but she was told they were not being employed. A CIA spokesman said it would be up to Congress to determine the accuracy of notes made by agency personnel at the time they briefed lawmakers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill, May 6, 2009. (AP Photo)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. leaves the Oval Office yesterday after meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss healthcare. (AP Photo)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, May 6, 2009. (AP Photo)

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Nancy Pelosi • Congress • CIA • torture • harsh interrogation • intelligence briefing • Jay-ZTV

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Boehner Cancels Payroll Vote

House Republicans revolt, call for conference committee

CIA Kept Secret Prison in Bucharest Neighborhood

AP investigation uncovers details of black site in Romania

CIA Heavily Edits FBI Agent's 9/11 Book

Cuts are due to criticism of CIA, author says

Pelosi's 3 'Super' Picks: Becerra, Clyburn, Van Hollen

Panel charged with finding $1.5T in cuts is now complete

Judge Lets Army Vet Sue Rumsfeld Over Detention

American contractor says defense sec approved his detention, torture in Iraq

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