New details have emerged from the Air Force detailing House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s use of USAF aircraft for Congressional
Delegations (CODELs). According to the documents, obtained by the
government watchdog group Judicial Watch through the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA), the Speaker’s military travel cost
the USAF $2.1 million over a two-year period. Over $101K was for
in-flight expenses including food and alcohol.
The following are highlights from the recent release of about
2,000 documents:
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.
ANN previously reported on the lawmaker's use of the USAF
'personal airline' with numerous requests for military aircraft as
well as the speaker’s last minute cancellations and
changes. Pelosi herself has been a critic of "abuse" by
corporate executives using business aircraft.
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