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Gingrich: Pelosi 'Lied,' 'Despicable,' 'Dishonest,' 'Vicious,' 'Trivial'

May 15, 2009 10:34 AM

Klein_2ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich today offered a blistering critique of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s handling of oversight on harsh interrogation tactics, in a major escalation of partisan attacks being aimed at Pelosi.

In an interview with ABC News Radio’s Marcus Wilson, Gingrich, R-Ga., said Pelosi, D-Calif., “has lied to the House” in claiming that she was never briefed by the CIA about the Bush administration’s use of waterboarding and other harsh tactics.

"I think she has lied to the House, and I think that the House has an absolute obligation to open an inquiry, and I hope there will be a resolution to investigate her. And I think this is a big deal.  I don't think the Speaker of the House can lie to the country on national security matters,” Gingrich said.

He continued: "I think this is the most despicable, dishonest and vicious political effort I've seen in my lifetime."

"She is a trivial politician, viciously using partisanship for the narrowist of purposes, and she dishonors the Congress by her behavior."

"Speaker Pelosi's the big loser, because she either comes across as incompetent, or dishonest.  Those are the only two defenses,” Gingrich said. “The fact is she either didn't do her job, or she did do her job and she's now afraid to tell the truth.”

Pelosi yesterday accused the CIA of giving her “inaccurate and incomplete information” on the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics by the Bush administration, saying that CIA officials are guilty of “misleading the Congress of the United States.”

Her recollection is contradicted by an intelligence report sent to Congress last week, which said Pelosi was briefed on enhanced interrogation techniques “that had been employed” in September 2002.

Gingrich also says that playing politics around anti-terror techniques could “get a lot of people killed.”

“This is really, really dangerous, and it is going to get a lot of people killed, if we don’t call a halt to it.”

To listen to ABC News Radio's full interview with Gingrich, click HERE.

ABC's Elizabeth Turrell and Steven Portnoy contributed to this report.

May 15, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1386)

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wow, from a guy who has his own problems with the truth. how would Gengrich know if Pelosi is a liar or not? he wouldn't. has it ever occured to this republican brain-child that the CIA is the liar.

Posted by: Paul Wall | May 15, 2009 11:01:19 AM

'Lied,' 'Despicable,' 'Dishonest,' 'Vicious,' 'Trivial'---sounds like Gingrich to me. there is a reason why your are where you are Newt. the CIA are the liars. the keep secrets and render their own version of the truth. i would believe Pelosi any day over the CIA.

Posted by: Paul Wall | May 15, 2009 11:05:07 AM

"wow, from a guy who has his own problems with the truth. how would Gengrich know if Pelosi is a liar or not? he wouldn't. has it ever occured to this republican brain-child that the CIA is the liar. "

What problems were those?

Posted by: Robert Davis | May 15, 2009 11:05:42 AM

I could care less. The CIA probably did lie , they are professional liars to begin with ,and intrinsically right-wing to the core to boot.

This is a non-issue,unless you are a Republican idiot looking for something/anything to complain about.

Shut up Republicans, especially if this is all you can bring to the table.

Posted by: Danforth | May 15, 2009 11:08:03 AM

Oh yes . . . the CIA lied. It couldn't have been Comrade Pelosi. She would never ever lie to the American people.

Posted by: Paul Joseph | May 15, 2009 11:10:28 AM

Pelosi has told many lies. She promised to put laws up for several days before voting on them. She promised to be bipartisan.

This lie is just one that has national attention.

Posted by: Kevin | May 15, 2009 11:11:06 AM

You are kidding me! She lied about knowing about torture and there needs to be an investigation? But when there is a call to investigate the torture itself it is partisanship!

Is there any reality left in the GOP?

Posted by: Thinking | May 15, 2009 11:11:25 AM

Same old tired rant from a blind liberal Paul Wall. Nancy Pelosi has become flat out dangerous. Whether your a conservative or a liberal. Her agenda panders to one thing...Her own self interest. Last I checked we havent had another attack on US soil since 9/11. The CIA was doing something right.

Posted by: Mike | May 15, 2009 11:11:27 AM

Typical liberal response - blame others - never accept responsibility - is is - party over country.

Enjoy your reign, democrats. The way it's going, 2010 looks to be a massive swing of the political pendulum.

Posted by: Frank | May 15, 2009 11:11:30 AM

You identify Gingrich as if he was still a Member of the House.

Posted by: DH | May 15, 2009 11:11:32 AM

Really kids? You don't like Newt's comments?

Neither do I. I think Newt went too easy on her.

She's a cartoon figure, but a dangerous one. Pelosi, Obama and the dems represent Fascist Socialism with an American face.

Posted by: Hal Russell | May 15, 2009 11:12:53 AM

No matter what you post on here, this is the fact. She KNEW and was told what was going on, and she is lying now. Or, she didnt KNOW, and should have asked more questions and STATED that she was opposed to this at the time. None of these have happened. You got to pick one. She did not do her job as required as a member of this committee. This is terrible.

Posted by: The President | May 15, 2009 11:12:59 AM

Thank you Mr Gingrich for your voice of reason. Too many continue to be interested in partisan politics. The focus is on security, safety, and honor in the military.

Stay on it Mr Gingrich.

Posted by: Opie | May 15, 2009 11:13:09 AM

Listen to all these liberals bashing Gingrich, when he's stating the plain truth. Pelosi is a joke, and anyone with a grain of common sense can see that.

Posted by: Matt B | May 15, 2009 11:13:14 AM

I could care less. The CIA probably did lie ,

Sure they did dope. She is a blithering idiot and one of the many reasons why the surrender monkey lead congress approval ratings are in the tank. Grow up.

Posted by: Mikey123 | May 15, 2009 11:13:42 AM

Most ethical Congress evah!

Posted by: Hurricane | May 15, 2009 11:13:49 AM

Typical liberal. She's so busted.

Posted by: Dave | May 15, 2009 11:13:56 AM

Pelosi epitomizes why we've come to despise Washington politicians - one of the many willing to throw the dedicated career civil servants under the bus to save her own political career.

Posted by: Bill Cope | May 15, 2009 11:13:59 AM

Once again everyone else must be lying so the democrat can be tell the truth. I thought we got rid of the Clintons. She is a bold faced liar and everone knows it. What is she on her fifth different lie this week. She is an embarrasement to the country. She should resign her seat in Congress today!

Posted by: TOM | May 15, 2009 11:14:00 AM

It's obvious Pelosi lied. It was politically inconvenient for her to tell the truth. To whatever extent that might be understandable, it's no excuse. After 8 years of non-stop hyperbolic howling about the Bush administration lying, it beggars belief the hypocrisy that Democrats (both in and out of Washington)are demonstrating by excusing her behavior with such an irrational, unsubstantiated, desperate and hair-brained excuse (the CIA lied).

Posted by: LaurieP. | May 15, 2009 11:14:29 AM

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