Pelosi – Still Silent On CIA – Takes Democrats Along For A Ride On Her Plummeting Approval

Pelosi – Still Silent On CIA – Takes Democrats Along For A Ride On Her Plummeting Approval
After Losing Credibility On National Security, Speaker Strengthens Her Role As Political Liability

Democrats Voted In Unison To Prevent Pelosi From Answering Questions About
Her Serious Allegations That The CIA Lied To Her

It Has Been Over One Month Since Pelosi Accused The CIA Of Lying To Her:

“Growing increasingly frustrated throughout the briefing, Pelosi slowly started backing away from the podium as she tried to end the questioning. As she backed out, she continued to accuse the CIA of not telling Congress that dissenting opinions had been filed within the administration suggesting the methods were not lawful.” (“Pelosi Accuses CIA of ‘Misleading’ Congress on Waterboarding”, Fox News, 05/14/09)

“She repeatedly referred to a carefully prepared statement to respond to multiple questions at the session with reporters… Ms. Pelosi blamed the dispute on Republicans and others, saying they are trying to shift attention from those who authorized the interrogations and other tactics now found to be questionable.” (Carl Hulse, “Pelosi Acknowledges She Was Told of Waterboarding in 2003”, Washington Post, 05/14/09)

Since Then, Pelosi Has Repeatedly Refused To Address Her Accusations Against The CIA:

“In her first news conference since accusing the CIA of lying to her about the use of harsh interrogation techniques, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday refused to answer questions on the controversy, telling reporters only that she stands by her earlier statements.” (Kara Rowland, “Pelosi refuses queries on CIA dispute”, Washington Times, 05/23/09)

“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to answer questions Friday about her stinging accusation last week that the CIA misled her about the use of waterboarding and Republican demands that she provide evidence.” (“Pelosi Refuses to Answer Questions”, CNN Politicker, 05/22/09)

“Seeking to damp a controversy prompted by her own remarks, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today refused to answer questions about her assertion that the CIA had misled her in 2002 about the use of waterboarding on terrorism suspects.” (Michael Muskal, “Pelosi deflects questions about CIA briefings on waterboarding”, LA Times, 05/22/09)

“…She flatly refused to answer a single question on the still-simmering controversy surrounding her assertion last week that the CIA had “misled” her during a Sept. 2002 briefing on terror interrogations.” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi: No more CIA questions allowed”, Politico, 05/22/09)

“Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) refused to answer any questions today about her accusations that the CIA lied to her about the use of enhanced interrogation techniques. “I have made the statement I’m going to make on this, and I don’t have anything more to say about it,” she said at her weekly press conference.” (Eric Zimmerman, “Pelosi Changes the Subject, Refuses CIA Questions”, The Hill, 05/22/09)

“Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today amid much anticipation that she’d be fielding more questions about her accusation that the CIA lied to Congress continually about enhanced interrogation techniques. Other members of Congress as well as the CIA vehemently dispute the charge. However, Pelosi refused to take questions on the subject, saying she’s said all she’s going to say on the matter.” (Ed Duffy, “Pelosi Update- The Speaker refuses to speak”, DC Examiner, 05/22/09)

During A Visit To Iowa, Pelosi Backed Out Of An Interview Once It Became Clear She Would Be Asked About Her Allegations Against The CIA:

“[Pelosi spokesman Drew] Hammill suggested a Friday interview with Pelosi might be possible for an advance story, without making any promises. He then followed up by asking what topics the Register would discuss with her in an interview.  I said, among other things, that I would ask about the controversy surrounding Pelosi’s statements regarding what she knew about CIA interrogation methods on terrorism detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  Hammill said that Pelosi had stopped answering questions about the issue. I acknowledged that, but replied that readers would want to know if the Register had at least posed a question about a national story that has followed Pelosi.  The frank but cordial conversation continued with Hammill saying the story had run its course, while I argued that Pelosi had not been to Iowa since it erupted and that Iowans might not have followed each of its turns…..The conversation ended with Hammill saying he would get back to me about an interview. But the headline of this post gave away the ending.”  (Tom Beaumont, “No Pelosi interviews for Iowa trip,” Des Moines Register, 06/06/09)

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