House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s misuse of the military and military aircraft at the cost of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars was recently discovered by Judicial Watch.
Judicial Watch, Inc. is a public interest group which investigates and prosecutes government corruption. They are a “conservative, non-partisan educational foundation, promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law.”
So, I guess the word ‘conservative’ makes them liars.
Through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Judicial Watch discovered an abject disregard for the United States taxpayers and military by repeated abuses of the Department of Defense (DoD) assets — assets owned by the citizens of the United States. At one point, Pelosi’s lieutenants had block-booked military aircraft on weekends, with a history of canceling.
It appears Pelosi’s goal was NOT to use commercial airlines — which we’ve been told are the safest in the world, post-9/11 — and to USE the military as her own private airline, hoping no one would dare question her authority as third in command.
The aircraft were frequently ‘booked’ by Pelosi’s team and cancelled at the last minute, thereby causing hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars to go to waste in the pre-flight preparations which go into such operations. Pelosi didn’t stop there and in May 2008 had requested the DoD to have her husband flown to Iraq to join the speaker on a Congressional Delegation, in direct violation of DoD policy.
Pelosi continued her abuses by requesting Army escort and military planes transport her and other members of Congress to Cleveland, Ohio last year, for funeral services of the late Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio). In her letter of August 22nd, 2008 she dubbed the transportation request as “Operation Tribute.” Probably figuring naming the flights a military operation would get her a ‘pass’ with the DoD personnel.
As if that abuse wasn’t enough, Pelosi’s lieutenants would routinely demand certain types of military aircraft and expressed outrage along with veiled threats when the aircraft were not provided by the military. At one point, one of Pelosi’s lieutenants, Kay King, Director of the House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs (think of the position as a glorified assistant), threatened the military by writing, “This is totally unacceptable … The speaker will want to know where the planes are …” Again, when specific types of aircraft were not available, King chastised the DoD, “This is not good news, and we will have some very disappointed folks, as well as a very upset [s]peaker.”
Meanwhile, it’s perfectly acceptable for Pelosi’s goons to know about military assets, where they are, when they are available and when they could be mis-used. I bet if Pelosi’s argonaut had inquired with commercial airlines, they would’ve lined-up to be of assistance. If at least in part to get favorable treatment in Congress when the airlines would march to Capital Hill again for handouts. AND at a far lesser price to taxpayers.
At one email thread, DoD staff advised King there was a mandatory “crew rest requirement” and offered to help secure commercial travel avenues. King insisted on military aircraft being utilized, complaining that the use of commercial aircraft would create ‘problems’ with spouses.
Really? And us slugs HAVE to fly commercial flights and be molested by the TSA? The day a five year old takes down a commercial jetliner, I will eat my words.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton states, “Taken together, these documents show that Speaker Pelosi treats the Air Force like her personal airline. 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.”
THR notes that after the events of 9/11, security rules were changed which allowed access to a 12-seat commuter jet for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)
This is but a small step over the next four years of crippling the U.S. military by the misuse of its assets from the Obama administration.
While the country is debating the economy, Pelosi probably figured no one would care about her misuse of the military. Apparently, neither did Obama.
I am,
The Hollywood Republican
