From Alexander Mooney
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is engaging in a “despicable, dishonest and vicious political effort” to withhold what she knew about the CIA’s aggressive interrogation techniques, Newt Gingrich said Friday, in what amounts to the harshest criticism yet leveled at the California Democrat.

In an interview with ABC Radio, the former House speaker said Pelosi flat-out “lied to the House” when she earlier claimed the CIA had never briefed her about the Bush administration’s use of aggressive interrogation techniques, including waterboarding.

“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.

Pelosi has been under fire from critics who say that she was fully briefed on the techniques in 2002 and 2003. On Thursday, the California Democrat accused CIA officials of misleading her, reiterating an earlier claim that she was briefed on such techniques only once — in September 2002 — and that she was told at the time that the techniques were not being used.

Nancy Pelosi draws fire over CIA claim. However, there are no firemen on duty. It is now up to her to smoother the fire she started. Didn't your daddy tell you that little girls should not play with matches.   AND PLEASE TELL US THE TRUTH, A DIVIDED COUNTRY  WANTS TO GET ON WITH THE JOB OF HEALING THE NATION.

• Play Video AP  – Pelosi: Bush, CIA mislead me on torture

• Slideshow:Nancy Pelosi
• Play Video Video:One-on-One With Speaker Pelosi CNBC
• Play Video Video:Pelosi: The CIA Lied to Me ABC News

AP – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, May 14, 2009. Earlier …