Durbin: CIA allegations should be probed

WASHINGTON, July 12 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate should investigate whether the CIA withheld information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress, a key senator says.

Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., speaking Sunday on ABC Television's "This Week" program, said the Senate "absolutely" should investigate allegations that intelligence officials illegally withheld information about an as-yet unidentified anti-terrorism program from senior lawmakers during the Bush administration.

"We have a system of checks and balances," Durbin said. "There's accountability in our Constitution. The executive branch of government cannot create programs like these programs and keep Congress in the dark. There is a requirement for disclosure."

The New York Times reported Sunday that former Vice President Dick Cheney personally ordered the CIA to withhold details of the program from congressional oversight committees.

U.S. Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., appearing on the same show, countered that any investigation of the CIA should wait.

"What if it's a top-secret program?" he said. "Of course, (Cheney) and the president would both be responsible for that. Let's don't jump to conclusions is what I'm saying."