Congressman: FBI should investigate CIA over Pelosi's charge

The next twist into Pelosi-gate?

You can debate whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi deserves a "gate" at the end of her name. In the meantime, one congressman thinks the FBI should be called in to investigate Pelosi's charge that the CIA misled Congress on Bush administration interrogation techniques ("enhanced," "harsh," or "torture," depending on your politics) against war-on-terror detainees.

CNN reports that California Congressman Darrell Issa, a Republican, believes the FBI could shed some light on the issue. Perhaps trying to protect himself from charges that the call is politically motivated, Issa says as a member of the House Judiciary Committee that CIA credibility affects his ability to perform.

"If CIA is lying to any of us -- and I have been briefed many times by them on the Intelligence Committee -- it puts me in a position of not being able to do my job properly," Issa said.

CNN says FBI director Robert Mueller reportedly is looking into the charge to see if an investigation is warranted.

Making friends

Politico reports that Arlen Specter, the Republican-turned-Democrati senator from Pennsylvania, is siding with Pelosi's take on the CIA.

“The CIA has a very bad record when it comes ... to honesty. It goes back a long time,” Specter said, speaking at an American Law Institute event.

"During my tenure as chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the 104th Congress, there were repeated instances where we didn’t get information that was there," he added.

"It's a real problem as to how you get the information."

Resign

No need for more information from the FBI, said another House Speaker, the former one from Georgia. Pelosi should just resign, Newt Gingrich said while appearing on Good Morning America today.

"She really disqualified herself to be the speaker," he said.

"If you were a CIA agent and you were told to go brief Nancy Pelosi, how could you have any sense of confidence in telling her anything?" he asked. "She raises allegations that basically smears everybody in the intelligence community who is trying to defend America."

Keeping her in place would be "very dangerous for the country," he added.

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