Despite repeated questioning, Bill O’Reilly was unable to get an answer out of Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) on whether the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on torture was factually accurate. Coats tried to avoid the question by saying the implication of the release of the report would have serious security consequences.
“But that’s a separate issue though… I want to get at the honesty of the report,” said O’Reilly on the "O'Reilly Factor" last night.
“It wasn’t on the up and up in terms of balance, in terms of the other side being told,” Coats said. He said the minority report produced by the Republicans probably won’t be reported in the media but provides their side of the story.
“One of the big issues on the Democratic side is that the CIA lied to the Intel Committee,” said O’Reilly. “Your Republican colleagues, that were there before you came, do they think they were lied to by the CIA?”
“There was a concern about whether or not the information that was being processed – but again there are two sides to that story, sort of separate to the story as a whole,” said Coats. “And that is an issue that has been resolved relative to the CIA’s concern that the Democrat staff was not following the rules.”
“That doesn’t mean anything to me and I don’t think most of the viewers,” said O’Reilly. “Do the other Republicans on the Intel. Committee think the CIA misled them in testifying about coerced interrogation?”
“I can’t speak for other members of the Committee,” he replied, continuing to try to avoid the question. “All I can do is say that our view was this was going to be a biased report…”
O’Reilly: “Let me ask you one more question about this, have any of your colleagues, you don’t have to name them, said to you ‘You know what, I don’t think the CIA was on the up-and-up when they briefed us. Any of your colleagues say that to you on the Republican side?”
“We are part of an oversight process, we question the CIA,” said Coats. “We have dealt with that issue and will continue to deal with that issue, I believe that issue has now been resolved, and the bigger issue of the report is…”
“Alright you’re kinda dodging my question here Senator…. You’re kinda dodging it. Any of your Republican colleagues on the Intel Committee tell you they thought the CIA misled them about coerced interrogation – yes or no?”
Coats took a long pause: “Look Bill, I’m sorry, but we’re part of a classified – can’t release information, I can’t speak for my colleagues and I won’t speak for them…”
Despite coaxing, Coats refused to answer O’Reilly’s question.