John Boehner: CIA Didn't Lie, But Maybe Nancy Pelosi Did

House Republican Leader John Boehner isn't buying what Nancy Pelosi is selling - that she didn't know waterboarding was being used in September of 2002.

And he doesn't think anyone else should buy it either, particularly because the CIA says it's sticking by its story that Pelosi and others did know it would be used.

The "problem" is that "the Speaker has too many stories on this issue ... she's provided more questions than she has provided answers," Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters today just after Pelosi left the podium to try to clarify what she knew about enhanced interrogation techniques and when she knew it. Pelosi essentially said the CIA "misled the Congress" on what techniques were being used, and maintains that she didn't know waterboarding was being used in September of 2002, when she and other ranking members of the congressional intelligence committees were briefed.

"I don't know what motivation they would have to mislead anyone," Boehner said, adding that briefings he has had since then give no indication that anyone mislead anyone. "I have not one doubt that our intelligence officials proceeded within the law and proceeded appropriately."

Boehner reiterated the call many Republicans are sounding, that if the Obama administration and Democrats are going to push for a "truth commission" and cherry-pick certain interrogation memos to release, to release it all so everyone knows who knew what, and when.

"I think if they want to have this big look backwards and have this truth commission, then we ought to put it all on the table," Boehner said, adding that such a commission is a "bad idea" that's neither in the nation's interest, nor the American troops'.

"It seems to me they [Democrats] want to have it both ways - they can't have it both ways."

Boehner's confidence in the CIA was echoed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Ct., who told MSNBC this afternoon that in the past 20 years he's been in Congress, he's been briefed by CIA officials "constantly." So, as to Pelosi's charges that the CIA "misled Congress," he said: "On that specific point, I totally disagree. You have to have confidence in the CIA. ...They tell the truth as they see it."

PolitiFact also last night came out and said Pelosi's claim that she and others were not told enhanced interrogation techniques were being used that fall is false.

Per PolitiFact:

"Her comments are directly contradicted by a CIA timeline prepared by the Director of National Intelligence that indicates Pelosi and Porter Goss, R-Florida, then-Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, were briefed on enhanced interrogation techniques. Specifically, the CIA timeline states that on Sept. 4, 2002, Pelosi and Goss received a 'Briefing on EITs (enhanced interrogation techniques) including use of EITs on (alleged al-Qaeda operative) Abu Zubaydah, background on authorities, and a description of the particular EITs that had been employed.'

That briefing came a month after the CIA began using Justice Department-approved enhanced interrogation techniques - including the drowning simulation technique known as waterboarding - on Abu Zubaydah, according to a Justice Department memo released last month."

Then:

"We are persuaded by the CIA timeline, which the agency says is based on 'an extensive review of (the CIA's) electronic and hardcopy files.' It's also important to note that the timeline that contradicts Pelosi was put together at the behest of an administration controlled by her own party. That document provides compelling -- albeit sparsely worded -- evidence that Pelosi's recollection is incorrect. ...For now, we rule Pelosi's statement False."