CIA director terminated program

WASHINGTON (AP) — A congresswoman says CIA Director Leon Panetta has terminated the covert program the spy agency had been conducting for eight years without the knowledge of Congress.

Illinois Democrat Jan Shakowsky, the chairwoman of the House Intelligence Committee's subcommittee on oversight, is pressing for an immediate committee investigation of the covert program.

In an Associated Press interview, Shakowsky described the program as "very, very serious" and said it "certainly deserved a serious debate at the time and through the years."

She says, "Now it's over."

Democrats revealed late Tuesday that CIA Director Leon Panetta had informed Congress in late June that the spy agency had been withholding important information about a secret program begun after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairwoman of a House Intelligence panel says it's imperative that lawmakers launch an immediate investigation on the CIA's admission that it misled Congress multiple times over the last eight years.

Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Shuh-COW'-ski) of Illinois said the CIA systematic lied to Congress, and called that inexcusable in a letter obtained by The Associated Press Friday.

Democrats revealed late Tuesday that CIA Director Leon Panetta informed Congress in late June that the spy agency had been withholding important information about a secret program begun after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes (Syl-VES'-ter RAY'-ess) said Tuesday night he is considering an investigation. Panetta has launched an internal probe at the CIA to determine why Congress was not told about the program. Exactly what the classified program entailed is still unclear. Reyes is a Texas Democrat.


by the associated press