Spokesperson says White House announcement of travel plans put Pelosi's delegation at risk
President Donald Trump canceled House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's planned trip to Belgium and Afghanistan just hours before the congressional delegation, known as a CODEL, was set to depart.https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/heres-why-president-trump-can-ground-nancy-pelosis-plane/502-30ec5d60-f52b-4af8-a8a8-cd0fb91669c6 …
President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travelpic.twitter.com/TtBCvwp080
Why would Nancy Pelosi leave the Country with other Democrats on a seven day excursion when 800,000 great people are not getting paid. Also, could somebody please explain to Nancy & her “big donors” in wine country that people working on farms (grapes) will have easy access in!
Pelosi's spokesman said that the congressional delegation had been prepared to fly commercially after the military plane was revoked, but learned the administration had also leaked the commercial travel plans https://yhoo.it/2TUpaAk pic.twitter.com/unzE7mn8XF
Thread from @SpeakerPelosi spokesman stating that @StateDeptDSS updated threat assessment detailing that @POTUS announcing lawmakers' travel "significantly increased the danger to the delegation and to the troops, security, and other officials supporting the trip."https://twitter.com/Drew_Hammill/status/1086271188056399872 …
The United States Congress is a co-equal branch of government in our system of checks and balances. The Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight in the war zone where our men and women in uniform are risking their lives every day.
After President Trump revoked the use of military aircraft to travel to Afghanistan, the delegation was prepared to fly commercially to proceed with this vital trip to meet with our commanders and troops on the front lines.
In the middle of the night, State Dept's Diplomatic Security Service provided an updated threat assessment detailing that the President announcing this sensitive travel had significantly increased danger to the delegation & to troops, security, & other officials supporting trip.
This morning, we learned that the Administration had leaked the commercial travel plans as well.
In light of the grave threats caused by the President’s action, the delegation has decided to postpone the trip so as not to further endanger our troops and security personnel, or the other travelers on the flights.
Whether here or abroad, the Speaker always thanks our troops, diplomats and intelligence community for their heroism & service. The Speaker commends her colleagues on the delegation, who personally & officially have dedicated their lives to protect & defend the American people.
Multiple admin sources were telling Hill reporters early this morning that the Speaker Pelosi delegation was flying commerciallyhttps://twitter.com/jeffmason1/status/1086288831576526849 …
White House sr. official tells colleague @fran_chambers that Pelosi lied when she claimed the administration leaked her CoDel's commercial travel plans.https://twitter.com/fran_chambers/status/1086290036897837056 …
An important reminder on why the secrecy of Congressional delegation travel into war zones is so important: In July, Sens Graham & Shaheen ate at a restaurant in Manbij, Syria. This week, that restaurant was bombed by ISIS killing 15, incl 4 Americans. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/reader-center/manbij-syria-restaurant-bombing-.html …
.@RepSteveIsrael: this isn't just about protection of speaker or members of codel. This is about protection of troops and security detail. You don't want bad guys to know when youre on ground or heading towards that ground or imperil people who are assigned to protect dignitaries
NEW: Nancy Pelosi on cancelled CODEL: "We had the prerogative to travel commercially, and we made plans to do that, until the administration then leaked that we were traveling commercially." https://abcn.ws/2FGD2uq pic.twitter.com/RrBPVIpXZS
"One sophomoric response does not deserve another." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham criticized the White House for its reaction to Pelosi's SOTU gambit.https://twitter.com/i/events/1086025705287122944 …
The US delegation will not be present at the #WorldEconomicForum due to the government shutdown.https://twitter.com/i/events/1086239954714251264 …