WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- A source close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now confirms that Pelosi was told in February 2003 by her intelligence aide , Michael Sheehy , that waterboarding was actually used on CIA detainee Abu Zubaydah . Source says Nancy Pelosi did n't object about waterboard usage because she was n't personally briefed about it . This appears to contradict Pelosi 's account that she was never told waterboarding actually happened , only that the administration was considering using it . Sheehy attended a briefing in which waterboarding was discussed in February 2003 , with Rep. Jane Harman , D-California , who took over Pelosi 's spot as the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee . This source says Pelosi did n't object when she learned that waterboarding was being used because she had not been personally briefed about it -- only her aide had been told . The source said Pelosi supported a letter that Harman sent to the administration at the time raising concerns . The source asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of matters discussed in classified intelligence briefings . Pelosi admits attending one briefing in September 2002 , but at a news conference last month , she was adamant that she did not know waterboarding was used . `` At that or any other briefing , and that was the only briefing that I was briefed on in that regard , we were not -- I repeat , we were not -- told that waterboarding or any of these other enhanced interrogation methods were used , `` Pelosi said on April 23 . Some Republicans have called for Pelosi to testify at congressional hearings . The number two House Democrat -- Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Maryland -- said Tuesday , `` I think the facts need to get out '' regarding what members of Congress had been told about harsh interrogations . But when asked whether Pelosi testifying would be appropriate , Hoyer did not directly answer the question , saying , `` The issue is what was done . If you do n't have the facts pounded on the table , they ( Republicans ) are pounding on the table , or they are pounding on Speaker Pelosi . Take your pick . But they are doing so as a distraction , as a distraction from what was done in this case . ''
Source says Nancy Pelosi was told by intelligence officer of waterboarding . The source also said because she was n't personally briefed , Pelosi did n't object . She did support letter voicing concern about waterboarding , source says . Pelosi has been previously adamant she did n't know waterboarding was used .