Posted on 07/21/2011 12:22:00 PM PDT by jazusamo
Complete title: Judicial Watch Uncovers New Documents Detailing Pelosi's Use of Air Force Aircraft for Her Family in 2010
Records Also Detail Massive Pelosi-Led Bipartisan Congressional Junket to Detroit Auto Show
Washington, DC -- July 21, 2011
Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has obtained new documents from the United States Air Force (USAF) detailing then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s use of USAF aircraft in 2010. The records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which include flight manifests, expense summaries, copies of receipts and Congressional correspondence, detail a number of trips made by Speaker Pelosi in 2010, including:
Overall, according to documents uncovered by Judicial Watch in January 2011, Pelosi used the Air Force aircraft for a total of 43 trips, covering 90,155 miles, from January 1 through October 1, 2010. Judicial Watch, through FOIA, continues to pursue other records related to Pelosi’s use of Air Force aircraft.
Previous documents obtained by Judicial Watch show the former Speaker’s military travel cost the USAF $2,100,744.59 over one two-year period — $101,429.14 of which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol. For example, purchases for one Pelosi-led congressional delegation traveling from Washington, DC, through Tel Aviv, Israel to Baghdad, Iraq May 15-20, 2008 included: Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey, Corona beer and several bottles of wine.
Judicial Watch also previously uncovered internal Department of Defense (DOD) documents 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. For example, in response to a series of requests for military aircraft, one DOD 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."
Judicial Watch also uncovered emails from the DOD that show the Pentagon worked hand-in-hand with congressional offices prior to releasing documents regarding congressional military travel under the FOIA. These “heads up” emails involved FOIA requests filed by Judicial Watch, The Wall Street Journal, Congressional Quarterly and Roll Call, among other organizations, related to the use of military aircraft by a number of congressional members, including Pelosi.
Following numerous press reports documenting Pelosi’s misuse of military air craft, current House Speaker John Boehner announced that he would fly commercial between his home district and Washington, DC. Nevertheless, Judicial Watch has initiated a separate investigation into travel since Republicans took control of the House.
“These documents further detail former Speaker Pelosi’s shameless abuse of military air craft during her tenure as House Speaker. Providing sweetheart travel deals for her adult children are an abuse of her high public office,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “But this scandal is much larger than Speaker Pelosi, as the massive Detroit Auto Show junket shows. Members of the House are able to obtain permission from the Office of the Speaker for the use of military luxury and military-supported travel for congressional delegation trips. These trips, known as CODELs, have exploded in number and cost. Speaker Boehner needs to reform this abuse of our military’s assets. For all the recent talk about corporate luxury jets here in Washington, the American people might be surprised to learn the Air Force has an entire wing of luxury jets (in addition to President Obama’s Air Force One planes) for the use of congressmen and top administration officials.”
She must’ve been somebody important.
The real question is whether there will be any repercussions! Will she be forced to repay taxpayers?
Some animals are more equal than others,
I think we can be assured she’ll not pay a dime back, she was entitled in her own little mind.
This isn’t the first time her providing free or practically free travel for family members has come out.
The House needs to defund the minority leader.
Will this story make the San Francisco papers at least? Not that it will matter much to anyone stupid enough to elect Pelosi in the first place. Libs don’t seem to mind their rich people.
No. The politicians in Washington see themselves as Gods among men. WE serve THEM.
Notice, now that we're discussing cuts to spending, there's nothing that cuts a politicians expenditures. They get to keep their mansions, beauticians, clothing designers, Delmonico steaks, fine wines, caviar, limos, extravagant trips, and other totally awesome perks.
To appease these Gods, it is WE who must sacrifice.
Some conservative sites and the Washington Times do pick up and reference JW pieces.
Read a book by Laura Bush where she stated that she and the President were responsible for their own expenses at the White House unless they entertained for State Dinners, etc. Wonder how this compares to the past Speaker of the House and the current occupants of the White House.
Dear God,
Please let this witch be frog-marched out of the congressional offices in handcuffs.
That, and world peace.
Amen
So ‘important’ people don’t have to pay their way for themselves and their entourage?
Lead story on NBC Nightly...
It’d be interesting to see a breakdown of what’s paid by POTUS as far as WH expenses. The Obama’s do a lot of entertaining and have various celebs come to the WH, I’d bet they’re not footing the bills for it.
In Laura's book she said that when they entertained family or friends they reimbursed the gov't.
There is so much entertaining done by the Obama's at the White House, that I'm sure they don't even try to reimburse the gov't. The explanation for their excessiveness must be interesting reading.
LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
I didn’t mean for it to sound like I meant the Bush’s, they’re as honest as the day is long and I’d take either at their word on anything.
They’re quite a contrast to the couple living in the WH now. LOL!
ROFL!
That’s great, potlatch.
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