Capitol Hill Divided

" We'll also learn that CIA director Leon Panetta will offer financial support to agents involved in the investigation into alleged interrogation abuses. Of overseas detainees. Could this investigation do more harm than gut. Well joining us now as a member of the foreign affairs committee Republican congressman Ed Royce congressman thank you so much for your time today. I got -- ask -- your initial reaction to the news this week about this investigation launched."

" Leon Panetta I agree with our CIA director I think that the country will pay -- as he said and as you pointed out. The the career professionals who look at this said it was not warranted it is the political appointee. Eric Holder who's making the decision how to prosecute and -- prosecute those individual specifically who were going after Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. And the other two top terrorist here who -- who gave us the information. -- allowed us to conclude an attack on Heathrow airport preclude an attack. On our consulate in Karachi that prevented. And attack in Los Angeles with a jetliner all of this information that came out came out as a result of the work of these CIA professionals. Who now face this prosecution."

" It congressman what do you make of the roll the sleeves for Leon Panetta -- understand that he sent over top lawyer from the CIA to try to make -- Final ditch last dead -- meant to try to head office investigation released convinced that it wasn't necessary. He's been tasked with trying to keep morale up try to protect his agents over there at the CIA where does this now put him."

" Well his concern of course is is on several fronts one the constant leaking of this information by Eric Holder and others. Is created an environment -- our use of sources and methods our ability to extract information. Out of future terrorist is put -- second it's had a chilling effect. On our CIA agents as you know you you talked a little bit about the morale. -- managing your morale if the rules to change after the fact when you know the inspector general and five years ago. The Justice Department professionals who looked at it said no. There's no case here and then you get a political appointee who now reverses all of that. An attempt to put you in prison that this is this is definitely gonna have any any impact in this is why -- sets that going forward. -- the United States of America this country will pay a price for this decision be made right now. Against our central intelligence -- agency profession."

" Congressman want to play just a little bit more of that exclusive interview to FOX News Sunday had with the former vice president and get your reaction."

" We had a track record. Eight years. Defending the nation against any further mass casualty attacks from a cut. The approach of the Obama administration should be come to those people who were involved in policy -- to do it. What were the keys to keeping this country safe over the -- time. Instead. They're out there are now threatening to despite the noise recently was the legal opinions threatening contrary to what the -- said investigate. And of the CIA personnel -- carried out those investigations."

" Mr. Cheney airplane to pick the finger at the Obama administration in a while their continue to be arguments that Eric Holder the attorney -- operating independently. Do you buy that explanation. --"

" I'm the ranking member on the international terrorism subcommittee I used to chair that committee I'm well aware of all this series of attacks that have been. Precluded. That have been prevented. Here here is my bottom line office. I think that when the vice president says that would do that when you look back. At the attacks that the former vice president says you look back at the -- have been prevented. When your current CIA director -- Democrats is going forward the country's gonna pay a price for this every American every American. Should be very very concerned about the political position of this process -- the fact that the career professionals don't want to move forward these prosecutions. But that it is in fact the political appointees -- were engineering that's. After congress was given information on forty separate occasions according to our CIA director. Leon has his pointed out forty cases where congress was informed every step of the way. In terms of these interrogations of -- of these three top al-Qaeda. Targets. From whom we we gleaned most of the information and as they begin to. Turn over the subsequent attacks on us and and on our allies in the west. When you look at all that's been prevented ask yourself going forward how -- we gonna stop that next attack and now that the did the Justice Department is going after our Central Intelligence Agency rather than going after the terrorists who would like to hit us again. Congressman and voice thank you for your time today sir."