Documents have been released that illustrate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s seemingly unacceptable demands of government air transportation for her, her family, and her staff. Through the Freedom Of Information Act, the documented requests were obtained from the Department of Defense by judicialwatch.org. Here are several excerpts:
- In response to a series of requests for military aircraft, one Defense Department official wrote, “Any chance of politely querying [Pelosi's team] if they really intend to do all of these or are they just picking every weekend?… [T]here’s no need to block every weekend ‘just in case’… “ The email also notes that Pelosi’s office had, “a history of canceling many of their past requests.”
- One DOD official complained about the “hidden costs” associated with the speaker’s last minute changes and cancellations. “We have… folks prepping the jets and crews driving in (not a short drive for some), cooking meals and preflighting the jets etc.”
- The documents include a discussion of House Ethics rules and Defense Department policies as they apply to the speaker’s requests for staff, spouses and extended family to accompany her on military aircraft. In May 2008, for example, Pelosi requested that her husband join her on a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) into Iraq. The DOD explained to Pelosi that the agency has a written policy prohibiting spouses from joining CODEL’s into combat zones.
- Documents obtained from the U.S. Army include correspondence from Speaker Pelosi’s office requesting an Army escort and three military planes to transport Pelosi and other members of Congress to Cleveland, Ohio, for the funeral services of the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Pelosi noted in her letter of August 22, 2008, that such a request, labeled “Operation Tribute,” was an “exception to standard policy.”
- The documents also detail correspondence from intermediaries for Speaker Pelosi issuing demands for certain aircraft and expressing outrage when requested military planes were not available. “It is my understanding there are NO G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable… The Speaker will want to know where the planes are… ” wrote Kay King, Director of the House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs. In a separate email, when told a certain type of aircraft would not be available, King writes, “This is not good news, and we will have some very disappointed folks, as well as a very upset [s]peaker.”
- During another email exchange DOD staff advised Kay King that one Pelosi military aircraft request could not be met because of “crew rest requirements” and offered to help secure commercial travel. Kay King responded: “We appreciate the efforts to help the codel [sic] fly commercially but you know the problem that creates with spouses. If we can find another way to assist with military assets, we would like to do that.”
There are several ways to respond to this:
First, for those who cannot stand the sight of Old Lady Pelosi, this is a clear representation of her arrogance and abuse of power. Mentally, she believes she’s owed certain benefits, like having the U.S. Air Force cater to her traveling needs. She feels her role in the government is more important than the value of the staffing, fuel, and maintenance costs required to haul her geezer fanny around the country. As she struts through the halls with a lifted nose, she sends out her pawns to do her bidding. She arms them with the threat of “upsetting the speaker,” should her requests be denied. She boasts to her family and friends about how she can fly anywhere at anytime. Her pride permanently lifts her eyebrows.
Second, for those who support Nancy Pelosi, these documents only prove how busy a schedule she keeps, and how her expertise is critical to our government’s functionality. The House Speaker is on 24 hour call, and should be given the opportunity to travel to any destination to fulfill her duties as a government officer. Her loyal staff is also aware of the key position she holds in office, and they are committed to ensuring her important tasks are completed quickly and precisely.
Visit www.judicialwatch.org for more details.
