CIA Denies Report of Blocking Hasan Intel

Officials Tell CBS News That Agency Isn't Withholding Information on Suspected Fort Hood Shooter

(CBS)  Updated at 12:12 p.m. Eastern time

Responding to a report that the Army psychiatrist suspected in last week's Fort Hood shootings had tried to contact people within al Qaeda - and that government intelligence agencies knew about it and are refusing to brief Congress on it - a U.S. intelligence official told CBS News that the CIA isn't withholding information from Congress.

"There's no sign at this point that the CIA had collected information relevant to this case and then simply sat on it," the official told CBS News Justice and Homeland Security correspondent Bob Orr.

ABC News published the report Monday morning with details that the CIA was refusing to brief the congressional committees charged with overseeing the intelligence agencies, a senior lawmaker told ABC.

Orr reports that the CIA denies any allegation that the agency is keeping Congress in the dark.

"This is a law enforcement investigation, in which other agencies - not the CIA - have the lead," CIA spokesman George Little told Orr. "Any suggestion that the CIA refused to brief Congress is flat wrong."

The report comes a day after lawmakers discussed the possibility of launching a congressional investigation into the worst mass shooting at a military facility in the United States last week that left 13 dead and 29 wounded.

Special Section: Tragedy at Fort Hood

In its report, ABC said it was unclear whether the American intelligence community alerted the Army about suspected shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who attended the same mosque as two of the 9/11 hijackers. Hasan is in critical condition at an Army hospital and breathing on his own.

More Coverage of the Tragedy at Fort Hood:

Hasan Liked Strippers, Club Manager Says
Did Army Miss Signs of Hasan's Extremism?
Fort Hood Reflects, but Work Carries On
Hasan Computer Shows No Terror Ties
List of Fort Hood Dead, Wounded

Previous reports have said the FBI is aware of inflammatory Internet messages allegedly posted by Hasan six months ago.

Congress has asked CIA Director Leon Panetta and National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair "to preserve" all documents and intelligence files related to Hasan, the senior lawmaker told ABC.

The Army and the FBI are conducting their own investigations into the Fort Hood shootings. Congressional Democrats on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday that they will give investigators more time before considering launching their own investigation.

[Funky-President]

I also have to point out that If indeed he wanted out of the military, He would not have accepted his recent promotion to Major. Such a promotion would increase the amount of time (in years) he is obligated to serve.

[Funky-President]

Is there any thing on any subject that the CIA has not denied?

[drthvader]

I have followed this story closely because I was so horrified that military personnel were not better protected within our own country. I feel that this is an "in your face" attack. The terrible thing is people knew about this man and did nothing. Accountability should lie somewhere on someone for NOT taking action against Hasan. This is unacceptable. We should have better security on our military bases.

[Funky-President]

Not taking Action against what? his personal opinions or bumper sticker? He never was in trouble before this incident or threatened violence. There was nothing that could be done. If he was under investigation or had any other known issue he would have been passed over for his recent promotion. He would have still been sent to Iraq though.

[Funky-President]

Yeah it is known that most spree shooters choose locations were guns aren't allowed. No surprises there.

Where is Obama on this? Do we still have to be very careful what we say so as not to upset his Muslim brothers? This is the worst case of Islamic Terrorism in America since 9/11. It is worse than if this SOB had killed 13 soldiers in Afghanistan and wonded many more. How long is the Obama administration and the media going to spin it.

[truth-b-toll]

I heard that Hasan did this because troops at Fort Hood were about to reveal the "REAL
Obama birth certificate!
Obama may have been in on the planning of the attack...
Drink DEEP when they pass you the KOOL-AID...

[AndyMaxo]

You hate President Obama more than you do the American hating Muslim that murdered a great bunch of US Soldiers. If so, then you are a traitor and no better (or maybe even worse) than Hasan.
Here's a test for you. When our President stands with the families of the murdered American soldiers on Tuesday as an act of reverance and respect, if you can't bear to look at him doing that then you are a traitor to the USA. If you find yourself watching the service as he stands over dead US soldiers, and all you can do is crack jokes about how big of a slimeball you think that he is, then you would be one person I would NEVER give my life to protect.
There is a time for everything in life and this not the time for politics. Let the rest of us bury our dead and have a little bit of QUITE for a couple of days. We won't forget that you hate the President of our Country in two days, so you don't need to worry about evryone forgetting about how much you despise him. I will never forget.
How do you sleep?