“While Speaker Pelosi may view the CIA misleading Congress as a ‘distraction,’ this is a serious matter of national security.”

U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, released the following statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood by her comments today that the Central Intelligence Agency misled her and other Members of Congress on the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, and referred to the matter as just a “distraction:”

“While Speaker Pelosi may view the CIA misleading Congress as a ‘distraction,’ this is a serious matter of national security.  Last night Republicans brought forward a simple resolution that would have allowed a bipartisan commission to get to the bottom of this important issue.  Democrats voted unanimously to reject the investigation.

“The American people deserve to know that their Speaker and their national intelligence officials are serving this country honestly and with integrity.  It is time for Congress to insist that the House intelligence committee immediately begin a bipartisan investigation into this matter and make a full public report to Congress.”