Judicial Watch posts documents in ‘Pelosi Air Force Scandal’; travel tops $2 million
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 1:37PM 
The government watchdog group Judicial Watch obtained documents from the Air Force detailing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s use of US Air Force aircraft for Congressional Delegations (CODELs). According to the documents obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Speaker’s military travel cost the United States Air Force $2,100,744.59 over a two-year period — $101,429.14 of which was for in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol.
The following are highlights from the recent release of about 2,000 documents related to Pelosi's travel:
•Speaker Pelosi used Air Force aircraft to travel back to her district at an average cost of $28,210.51 per flight. The average cost of an international CODEL is $228,563.33. Of the 103 Pelosi-led congressional delegations (CODEL), 31 trips included members of the House Speaker’s family.
•One CODEL traveling from Washington, DC, through Tel Aviv, Israel to Baghdad, Iraq May 15-20, 2008, “to discuss matters of mutual concern with government leaders” included members of Congress and their spouses and cost $17,931 per hour in aircraft alone. Purchases for the CODEL 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.
•According to a “Memo for Record” from a March 29—April 7, 2007, CODEL that involved a stop in Israel, “CODEL could only bring Kosher items into the Hotel. Kosher alcohol for mixing beverages in the Delegation room was purchased on the local economy i.e. Bourbon, Whiskey, Scotch, Vodka, Gin, Triple Sec, Tequila, etc.”
•The Department of Defense advanced a CODEL of 56 members of Congress and staff $60,000 to travel to Louisiana and Mississippi July 19-22, 2008, to “view flood relief advances from Hurricane Katrina.” The three-day trip cost the U.S. Air Force $65,505.46, exceeding authorized funding by $5,505.46.
“Speaker Pelosi has a history of wasting taxpayer funds with her boorish demands for military travel. And these documents suggest the Speaker’s congressional delegations are more about partying than anything else,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
Judicial Watch previously obtained 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. [Release from Judicial Watch/Jan. 28, 2010]
Reader Comments (31)
If this had been Steny Hoyer, I could easily see the Republicans racing to the microphones to excoriate Pelosi's predecessor, and Democrats would call for his removal. And I think that he would step down.
But since Pelosi has a (D) behind her name (and she is more historic and awesome than a unicorn I'm told), absolutely nothing will happen, except for those concerned with her exorbitant spending will be labeled as "tea-baggers" (unless the Democrats can come up with something even more boorish and condescending).
Make that Dennis Hastert.
Stop paying taxes, that is the ONLY way they will get the message.
I called her offices and they were very rude and just put me through to the voicemail, like I said, the only way to make a difference is to stop paying taxes.
As Ms Pelosi says "Let them eat cake".
WAKE UP AMERICA
She needs to be indicted and go directly to jail
This is what you get (deserve) when you have a country in which the citizens want everything and expect someone else to pay for it. Pelosi is representative the average American.
WHY DOESN'T SHE JUST RIDE HER BROOM?
She will blame it on George Bush somehow.
The only message that will get delivered by not paying taxes will be delivered by the IRS in the form of penalties, interest, liens and possibly Jail..What a couple of geniuses you tools are.
The most disturbing thing about this entire article is the choice of scotch. I mean, Johnnie Walker RED? If you're gonna fleece the taxpayers, at least have the good taste to upgrade to Johnnie Walker Blue Label.
I agree with a couple of the above posters. There NEEDS to be an organized national movement to stop paying taxes until this abuse stops. A movement where on Tax Day nobody files their returns. What's the government going to do? Arrest the entire population. I think not.
No Two if by Sea they will just let the interest start building up and start filing cases against each person one at a time. Since they are getting interest and penalties. After a while they will issue a lien against your bank account to collect the money. Time is on their side because the longer it takes the more you owe. Then when you go to court you will just owe about 5 times what you would have owed in the first place. Unlike the rest of the government they IRS is very good at what they do, and the laws are all slanted in their direction. So go ahead and don't pay and watch the IRS rain fire on your head.
The only solution is to vote and educate people to elect people align with your views. All other things is just wasting your time.
I remember when Clinton was prez and he was accused of using IRS as his political attack dog.
I think there are civil ways to protest--I like the idea of a red pen campaign. Send a pen to every elected official (or better yet take them to D.C.), and ask them to look at the facts. On a website, you could list the outrageous waste of taxpayer money--Pelosi's is a drop in a very big bucket. Ask them to use the pens to delete the waste.
I agree you have to educate people--it always amazes me how people vote for a person yet the voter is unable to articulate even one policy or issue position the candidate has.
I remember 20 years ago during the first Bush presindency John Sununu used an airforce plane to get back to New Hampshire for an appointment and he was forced to resign. Pelosi is exactly what is wrong in Washington and it's time to throw her botox face out of office. Wake up San Fransisco and vote for someone normal.
First of all PhillyJeff...the IRS is NOT a government agency.
Secondly, the entire political system has been taken over. We will never have a candidate that is not backed by the elitist CFR. It just can't happen.
Americans your time is almost up. Wake up NOW or it's all over.
And KayB.Day.....send them a PEN????????
Seriously????
And...as the US Titanic sped steadily forward through the dark chilly waters the republicans pulled mightily to the right and the democrats tugged doggedly to the left and while yelling names at each other at the top of their lungs, no one heard the watchman yelling...LOOK THE FRIK OUT!!! IT AINT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT..IT IS DEAD AHEAD!! Go figure!!
You have to give them credit for knowing how to pick the best liquior on the market.
Imag, you couldn't just send them the pen, no. You'd have to have the website set up and create a campaign. The idea is to teach them to do what they are apparently incapable of doing: redlining.
Every home and business in the US knows that if our income goes down and expenses go down we have to cut.
Our Congress and our Executive Branch do not know this. So I figure we can at least plant a new idea in their federal brains.
There are other wilder options. I've often wondered what would happen if every taxpayer asked for an extension and filed those requests on the same day. (I'm counting out those who get refunds-)
P.S. IRS describes itself as a government agency on its website even tho it's technically a "bureau" in the Treas. dept. So Philly Jeff did not err.
http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=98141,00.html
Pelosi is 2nd in line to the Presidency, just behind Biden. Since Bush and Republicans have not been able to keep this country safe, somebody in direct line to the Presidency needs extra protection. Hassert, her Republican predecessor, unscaled his transportation. Since Pelosi lives further away, California versus Illioois, she needs a big plane with longer range.
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.
Several bottles of wine? Yeah, wine costing 20,000 dollars a bottle.
Who brought the cocaine?
Or did they snort some meth to help absorb all that booze?
How quickly we forget that ALL politicians are corrupt and AMERICAN citizens put them in office. Also Americans are stupid enough to think that one political party is "better" or "more innocent" than the other.
Poor,poor America.
Speaking of snorting...
George Herbert Walker Bush, the presidents father. Bush, as director of the CIA, had funneled enormous amounts of cash to drug runners including Manuel Noriega and helped in the destabilization of Argentina. Bush utilized his own connections to help fund drug runners from Laos to Panama. Most shocking was the so-called "cocaine coup" in Bolivia in June 1980, masterminded by fugitive Nazi Klaus Barbie, "The Butcher Of Lyons."
George H.W. Bush later facilitated the Iran-contra affair, employing many of the same methods: secretly selling Central American cocaine in America and weapons to Iran while using the profits to fund the contras and to overthrow democratically elected socialists in Central America
Then Bush Jr
Upon appointment as president, Bush appoints 6 Iran-contra defendants to his staff, (13) fills the upper levels of the White house and pentagon with senior members of the PNAC (14) including his speech writer, chief advisor, secretary of defense, and vice president. Uses the terrorist attacks of 9-11 (16) to illegally invade and occupy Iraq under the false pretense of imminent threat (15) and reaps billions for Cheney's Halliburton, Rumsfeld's Bechtel, and his own family's Carlyle group.
Again about snorting...anyone remember Little Bush getting caught with brother Jeb ON VIDEOTAPE on Barry Sealsl(the biggest drug smuggler in American history) plane used for drug transport?
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/cocaine2/index.html.
Pelosi is the exemplar of the self proclaimed consciousness of America, that blindingly brilliant city of San Francisco. To object to her way of servicing America is sadly the pleats of small and jealous people, who unfortunately can not see from the higher, loftier perspective of a San Franciscan who all have true unselfish vision. Her behaviour just looks seemly. In the end the contradictions will make obvious sense, and the true , devoted humbleness of her service for America will once again be hailed by the light bulbs of San Francisco who will then elect her once again on a platform of spiritual materialism.
Americans do not need to support Pelosi and her entourage's alcholism.