Pelosi Deflects Questions About CIA Briefings

5033880House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was back on the who-knew-what-when hot seat today. Seven Democratic colleagues released a letter yesterday requesting that CIA Director Leon Panetta correct his May 15th statement that the CIA does not mislead Congress.

The members urged Panetta to make the change in light of a recent Intelligence briefing by Panetta where he told members that top CIA official had, in fact, concealed significant information from Congress from 2001 to last month.

It's been almost two months since Pelosi claimed the CIA lied to her about what interrogation methods they'd used on detainees. That accusation prompted Panetta's statement defending the agency.

Since then, the speaker has refused to take any more questions on the subject. While Pelosi took numerous questions today, she deflected most and left matters in the hands of the House Intelligence Committee.

"There is a briefing that is of serious concern to members of the committee," Pelosi said, "and they have their course of action to deal with it."

Pelosi said she expects the committee will pursue the issue.

Pelosi also responded to Republican criticism of her claim saying "our success is driving the Republicans to distraction. Any excuse will do."
House Minority Leader John Boehner wasn't buying that Panetta's statement had anything to do with interrogation briefings. He said that some people are trying to mix apples and oranges.

Boehner renewed his call today for Pelosi to either "put up the facts or retract her statement and apologize" to the intelligence committee.

Jill Jackson is a CBS News Capitol Hill producer.