Hoyer Declines to Back Up Pelosi's Claim That CIA Misled Congress

by 158 | May 14, 2009 at 03:30 pm

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Fox and CNN are both giving

this heavy coverage. It could

become a debate over who knew

what and when and what they did.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi's deputy in the House declined to back her up on her stunning claim Thursday that the CIA misled Congress about its use of enhanced interrogation techniques.

Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader, panned the recent criticism of Pelosi as a "distraction" during a verbal tangle with Republican Whip Eric Cantor on the House floor.

But when asked directly whether he shares Pelosi's belief that the CIA misled Congress, he backed off.

"I have no idea of that. I don't have a belief of that nature because I have no basis on which to base such a belief," Hoyer said