House rejects GOP resolution on Pelosi

Every House Democrat voted Thursday to reject an investigation into what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi knew about Bush administration interrogation techniques.

The vote showed the support Pelosi continues to enjoy among the House Democrats she leads, as Republicans keep up the pressure and offer scattered calls for her to step down.

In a 252-172 vote, the House rejected a Republican effort to create a new Intelligence subcommittee to look into Pelosi’s charges that the CIA “misleads Congress all the time.” Two Republicans Reps. Ron Paul (Texas) and Walter Jones (N.C.), voted to quash the resolution.

“If indeed there has been a pattern, that is an untenable situation to have,” said Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), who offered the resolution to start an investigation in coordination with Republican leadership offices.

Republicans knew they would lose but want to keep the pressure on and keep alive the dispute between Pelosi and the CIA, now in the hands of a Democratic administration.

About an hour after the vote, the House Republicans’ campaign organization sent news releases to outlets in the districts of vulnerable Democrats criticizing them for standing with Pelosi.

“Nancy Pelosi has launched very serious allegations that the CIA knowingly deceived Members of the United States Congress, and the American people have a fundamental right to know the truth,” said Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The call for an investigation followed calls by House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) during the weekend for Pelosi to prove her charge or apologize to the CIA.

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