House Speaker Issued Unprecedented Demands for Military Aircraft and Wasted Taxpayer Resources with Last Minute Cancellations

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained documents from the Department of Defense (DOD) detailing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's multiple requests for military air travel. The documents, obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), include internal DOD email correspondence detailing attempts by DOD staff to accommodate Pelosi's numerous requests for military escorts and military aircraft as well as the speaker's last minute cancellations and changes. The following are a few highlights from the documents, which are linked in full below:

* 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."

Speaker Pelosi came under fire in 2007 for requesting a 42-seat Air Force carrier to ferry the Speaker and her staff back and forth between San Francisco, CA and Washington, DC. Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert was allowed access to a 12-seat commuter jet for security reasons after the events of 9/11.

"Taken together, these documents show that Speaker Pelosi treats the Air Force like her personal airline," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "Not only does Speaker Pelosi issue unreasonable requests for military travel, but her office seems unconcerned about wasting taxpayer money with last minute cancellations and other demands."

"If the Republicans are ever to emerge from the long dark night they have created for themselves it will have to be without pandering to the right wing nuts that comprise Rush Limbaugh's radio audience. Didn't they learn anything in the last election?

All of which is to say the GOP is blowing it big time. They were handed a golden opportunity to redeem themselves with the election of Barack Obama -- a chance to line up and in unison condemn the evil their party put in the White House the previous eight years."

Like equating shoplifting to bank robbery.

"without pandering to the right wing nuts"

Interesting that only one party elects presidents, isn't it? Or do I have to put the dots closer together?

Sucking up to Rush Limbaugh will push any chance of a congressional majority or Republican president out at least 8 years, perhaps 12.

After the horrendous last eight years the people have moved to the center and to left/center...and the Reps have done what was most predictable...moved farther to the right.

Fish on...

Todd

Stlhead,
You remind me of the guy with the broken down fence protecting his broken down cars parked in the front yard half hidden by two foot of uncut grass pointing out what a dirt bag neighbor he has because he painted his house an ugly color. You should start thinking about what your own party is going to help this country out as they are in control and quit defelecting the failure of things to get done onto the party that really has no say at this point.
I agree the obstructionism is B.S. (I dont like it now anymore than when the Dems did it before) but we have two parties in this country because we need two points of view. Believe it or not, there are people out there (some even have educations)who dont think the govern is the answer to all our problems.
And quit pandering to the "left wing nuts" though I am sure they will chime in soon.

why would any self respecting republican listen to what some dip sh!t lib like you has to say?? if anything we will take what you say and do the exact opposite....

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jack Cafferty.

(as well as a few members of the Obama Orthodoxy aka the Obamadorksies)

Dewbie, I guess you oughta do what you gotta do...I mean, look how great it's working so far...

Anyone who thinks Rush, or Hannity, or Savage, or O'Reilly could manage to run a McDonald's without completely fuckin it up using the same strategies they think will work for our country should really get their skulls checked for major damage.

Fish on...

Todd

P.S. You're one of the 18% that think the last 8 years was a success, huh?

todd.....you arent to bright are you.....that is a completely ridiculous statement to make.

Why would any citizen of the United States be even remotely satisfied with any politition of recent memory ?

Party ha, they're pretty much in this together...

Basicly a seamless transition from "W" cutting checks to uber-wealthy bankers, to "O" cutting checks to pretty much anybody with a private jet...

I don't have a party. I am an independant who detests the republican party. "quit defelecting" part of why I detest the GOP. Eight years of "blame Clinton". "we need two points of view" who say's? Reaganomics didn't work. Reaganomics on steroids was a disaster. "Sell crazy somewhere else"

"that is a completely ridiculous statement to make"

Coming from you dewbie that is just precious. I can see a tv show out of this "Oh Dewbie".

a true independent would detest both parties....hence then name independent... you my friend are a liberal, may as well embrace it.

Notice the GOP and it's nattering nabob minions want the past eight years swept under the rug? We shouldn't bring it up. Forget all about it. And never ever mention he who's name shall not be spoken....yes ladies and gentlemen....the once mighty king of the party....the guy you'd like to have a beer with...the great decider....

actually bush was a moderate......he did a lot of things that i didnt agree with because they leaned to far to the left.

fixed it for you - no thanks necessary