Senators Criticize Cheney Cover-Up

Former VP Had CIA Conceal Program from Congress; New Calls for Investigation of Bush-Era Torture

(CBS)  There are news calls from democrats in Washington tonight for investigations into George W. Bush-era torture and anti-terrorism policies. And the former vice president could be on the hot seat, as CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozier reports.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney ordered the CIA to keep a top-secret intelligence program secret from congress, according to Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Diane Feinstein.

She says current CIA director Leon Panetta informed intelligence committees in late June.

"He was told that the vice president had ordered that the program not be briefed to the Congress," Feinstein said Sunday. "We were kept in the dark. That's something that should never, ever happen again."

"To have a massive program that is concealed from the leaders in congress is not only inappropriate; it could be illegal," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said.

The counterterrorism program was established as the CIA ramped up its hunt for Osama bin Laden. No one has revealed details of the program, but a U.S. official familiar with it told CBS News it was never fully operational.

The official said CIA Director Panetta canceled it when he found it hadn't been reported to Congress.

His decision to kill it was not difficult or controversial, the official said. It was an "on again/off again" program, not one on which the country deeply relied.

No one today called the program illegal. But the CIA could still face tough questioning on another front.

Attorney General Eric Holder is reportedly learning toward appointing a special investigator to determine whether the CIA tortured terrorism suspects. That's prompting bipartisan criticism.

"The military has done a series of independent reports. And I believe that that is sufficient. I don't believe a special commission is necessary," Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ariz., told CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday.

"I just don't want to see an instance where if the higher-ups gave the order to break the law, that the ones who get punished are the people basically on the front line, the lower-level troops," Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said.

That's exactly what those on the front line believe will happen, according to one former CIA official, Michael Sheuer.

"I think it will pull everybody back from doing anything that smacks of the non-conventional," he said.

He points out that the CIA already encourages every one of its agents to take out personal liability insurance, just in case they're prosecuted, if one White House decides whatever the last one authorized was illegal.

[revlin1]

This would almost be funny that anyone is criticizing anything except that it is so hypocritical considering ALL the coverup of the man occupying the White House! HELLO? Where's the birth certificate! LOL

[mgpm-2009]

I hope this man gets what he truely deserves. He's a boil on America's backside.

[sjc_1]

"...if one White House decides whatever the last one authorized was illegal."

If they would stop doing illegal operations, there would not be a problem no matter who was in power. Rule of Law is the guiding principle and FISA was the law in force. You do NOT wiretap without a FISA warrant...period! There is no ambiguity there at all and they should not pretend that there was.

[aubfmet]

Time to put Cheny and the last administration behind us. We won't get anywhere whipping a dead dog.

[chonder2]

Pelosi or no Pelosi. The ONLY way to settle the CIA relationship issue with the Cheney Administration, and Pelosi, is to find out what was the reasoning was after 9/11 to reform the intel gathering process.To show without a doubt what that process has resulted in would be to hold open hearings that dig back to 9/12.

[chonder2]

Yea your right, God bless Bush/Cheney.Next time we need to invade a country on false pretenses we'll give them a call! Have a feedom fry.

[pjk12354]

Cheney is not above the law...........he slithers underneath it......thats how he gets away with what he does.

[chonder2]

Bush/Cheney to keep us safe invaded Iraq and SECURED the oil ministry!
Have another freedom fry.

[ljstroud]

I suspect this is away to cover up Pelosi saying she was never told.

[omnibus66]

Jim Jones, Jeffrey Dahmer, David Duke, Ted Bundy, and even Saddam Hussein had their worshipers. Judging from these blogs, Cheney has his also.

Defending the indefensible is a difficult task, and would at least partially account for all the name calling going on here. With nothing positive to say about Cheney, the strategy seems to be to attack the one who criticizes him.

That used to work. Doesn't anymore.

[rf35]

Hold the old goat accountable. Investigate, determine if a crime was committed, and take appropriate action (prosecute) if one was.

Same goes for anyone, regardless of party. Both major parties are corrupt and have lost sight of the fact that they are supposed to be serving the citizens of America, not themselves, their pet special interest groups, or foreign nationals living here without proper documentation.

[OregonJames]

There has been very little talk so far concerning the killings of some 2,000 prisoners by a CIA contracted sheik in Afghanistan. I wonder if this is the big cover-up that everyone is now speaking of.