Clamor grows over CIA secrets and DICK Cheney

07-14-2009

Democrats renew their calls for some kind of investigation and criticize former Vice President Dick Cheney. Reporting from Washington -- Democratic lawmakers criticized former Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday for allegedly ordering that a CIA counter-terrorism program be kept secret from congressional leaders, with two senators questioning the legality of such concealment.

A top Democrat called for an investigation. Republicans were far more circumspect, but some acknowledged the White House should have briefed Congress.

Exactly what the secret intelligence program was remained a mystery, but sources said the CIA had opened an internal inquiry.

It is unclear how wide an investigation lawmakers would like to see, but the latest controversy could fuel demands for an examination of the CIA's relationship with Congress during the Bush administration.

Congressional Democrats -- in particular, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of