Republican fires back at Democrats over CIA's secret program

The top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee asserted Wednesday that Democrats are wrong when they say Congress was never informed about a now-canceled secret CIA program to assassinate terrorists.

"One of the things that all these smart guys ought to do is go back and take a look at the records that they have on the committee," said Senate Intelligence ranking member Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., taking aim at Democrats in an interview Wednesday.

Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence committees contend they did not learn about the classified program until CIA Director Leon Panetta informed them of it on June 24. Panetta said he only learned about it a day earlier and put an end to it, adding that former Vice President Dick Cheney told the CIA to keep it secret from Congress.

Several Democrats believe Congress should launch an investigation into the program, arguing that it is an example of how the CIA has repeatedly misled Congress.

But Bond disputed the Democrats' allegations about the program.

"We are looking at the Senate records. I've just looked at parts of them and I definitely don't think their accusations against [former] Vice President Cheney or the CIA hold water," he said. "Having looked at that I do not agree that this was never discussed with Congress."

Bond said Democrats has shown "no reluctance to tar the CIA" to give political cover to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who said in May that Congress had been misled.

Late Wednesday, Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., rejected Bond's claims.

"There is no evidence that the Senate Intelligence Committee was ever briefed on the existence, or specific aspects, of the program in question," Feinstein said. "I know of what [Bond] is speaking, and it does not reflect this program."

A senior Democratic House aide shot back. "Director Panetta told the committee that this matter had never been briefed to the committee in the past and the committee is reviewing its own records to confirm that and thus far has uncovered no record of ever having been briefed on this matter," the aide said.

Bond's remarks came as the Senate Intelligence Committee was weighing amendments to the fiscal 2010 intelligence authorization bill to increase the number of lawmakers who could be briefed on covert intelligence operations.

The markup could not be finished late Wednesday, as the panel had about 50 amendments to work through.

Bond would not confirm if the panel had voted on an amendment that would change the congressional notification process. Committee aides would not comment.

But Bond said he did not believe he could support any amendment changing the status quo, noting that language in the House authorization bill allowing greater participation in classified briefings has drawn a veto threat from the White House.

"I believe President Obama's taken a very clear stand that for the House to try to change the notification requirements when the president has the power to determine classification, he's said that would draw a veto," Bond said. "I'm not normally known as a defender of President Obama, but I think he's right."

But Sen. John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., expects to have an amendment approved that would stipulate that if the president tries to limit briefings only to the top congressional leaders, he must also notify the full intelligence committees and provide members with a description of the matters covered by the briefing.