-- 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."
Visit www.JudicialWatch.org to view the documents related to Nancy Pelosi's
requests for military travel.
Contact Information: CONTACT: Jill Farrell 202-646-5188