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GOP Rep.: Pelosi Should Lose Security Clearances

May 20, 2009 2:49 PM

Klein_3 ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s leading Republican critics is calling on his colleagues to suspend the speaker’s security clearances, until or unless her disagreement with the CIA is resolved.

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said on ABCNews.com’s “Top Line” today that Pelosi, D-Calif., “can’t be trusted with intelligence secrets until this matter is cleared up.” 

“The speaker’s intelligence security credentials are in question. I think this Congress needs to consider whether we would suspend that and ask her whether she will step down or step aside until such time as this matter is cleared up,” said King, who said he agreed with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich that Democrats should replace Pelosi as speaker. 

“The briefings that take place on the fourth floor of the Capitol building will not be at the level of confidence and the ability of the members to keep that secure,” he added. “And certainly I think at this point the speaker can’t be trusted with intelligence secrets until this matter is cleared up.”

Pelosi last week accused intelligence officials of “misleading the Congress of the United States” by not fully briefing her about waterboarding and other harsh interrogation techniques. CIA Director Leon Panetta maintains that she was fully and accurately briefed.   

King’s idea for a House floor vote on security clearances is not being embraced by House GOP leadership, according to Capitol Hill sources.

But Republican leaders are considering other ways to force all House members to take a stand on the controversy surrounding Pelosi before the Memorial Day break.

One concept being discussed would involve a vote on whether the House intelligence committee should investigate Pelosi’s allegations. Such a vote would almost certainly fail along party lines, but would force House Democrats into a politically awkward vote.

“There are a number of different ideas on the table,” King said. “We do go home for this Memorial [Day] break so there is a concern that this will dissipate over time. If it does then it’ll be the country that pays the price.”

Though Democrats are lining up behind the speaker, King predicted that splits will begin to appear inside the party. 

“I think they have to decide whether national security means more to them then holding their party together,” he said. “At some point Democrats are going to have to decide whether -- it probably will be a political decision on their part -- whether their seats become vulnerable. If they think they’re going to lose their seats then they’re going to join Republicans in this growing movement to stand up for national security and set aside partisanship.”

“I expect to see that fairly soon and they’re all kinds of factions within the Democratic caucus that are pulling against each other right now,” King added. “But they are not standing on the steps of the US Capitol in solidarity with Nancy Pelosi today, and I don’t expect that’s going to happen because they don’t have any confidence that what she said was the truth.”

Watch the interview with Rep. Steve King HERE.

Also today, we spoke with Ana Marie Cox, of Air America, about Pelosi, Michael Steele’s efforts to turn around the Republican Party, and tomorrow’s dueling speeches pitting President Obama against former Vice President Dick Cheney. 

(Guess which speech she’ll be attending.)

Watch our interview with Ana Marie Cox HERE.

May 20, 2009 in Top Line | Permalink | Share | User Comments (22)

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GIVE IT A REST GOP!No one is Buying this Blame game Nonsense!

Posted by: Angie in Pa | May 20, 2009 3:07:48 PM

Republicans got nothing else to do? I guess not as evidenced by their lack of anything meaningful to say on any issue. I am no fan of Pelosi and she should have kept her mouth shut....but Republicans need to give it a rest. It's purely political what they are doing and everyone knows it..

Posted by: indy_voter | May 20, 2009 3:19:28 PM

Pelosi is a typical Democrat.. whiny, crybaby, lying and just plain Stupid
28 democrat scandals and counting. the culture of corruption continues..RESIGN JOHN MURTHA for calling our troops murderers

Posted by: Nancy Pelosi, accomplice to torture | May 20, 2009 3:25:33 PM

my republicans think spending 100% of their time in congress trying to make dems look bad makes them look good.

THATS NOT NEW IDEAS TO HELP US LOSING OUR BUSINESSES IN SMALL TOWN AMERICA

i'm a hard working small business rebublican losing more faith in my party every day. 100% in lock step saying no for 4 years will lose me too.

Posted by: modrepublican | May 20, 2009 3:29:22 PM

RIP, GOP

Posted by: Paul Wall | May 20, 2009 3:36:26 PM

Leon is more of the adult in this all. Hes saying keep the CIA out of this so they can do their jobs. Republicans are making this like the movie Ground Hound Day with them Bashing Democrats. The Republicans are turning the House into a circus. Vote Democrat in 2010.

Posted by: Ron | May 20, 2009 3:39:29 PM

The republicans have totally lost their minds. I would suggest that the CIA under that watch of the Bush administration is who needs to prove they didn't lie. We all know Bush and Cheney and even Rice all lied to us on numerous occaisions even when told that the WMD story may have been exaggerated. It wasn't exaggerated, it was an outright lie. The CIA new it and so did Americans with a brain. So the fact that anyone connected with this administration or for that fact any republican needs to keep their mouth shut as soon they will all be crying as Bushies start going to jail for their lies.

Posted by: Chuck | May 20, 2009 4:19:24 PM

The Republicans are attempting to defocus off of the 'games of torture' they played for 7 years. George Tenet Did Lie to the American People. Furthermore, I believe Nancy Pelosi, as the Republicans are "betting" that the vast amounts of the American people are just plain "stupid" as they have thought for decades. Steve King, I say, you and your republican colleages Should not only loose your "Security Clearances" but your 'socialized fat pensions, including that of Bush and the fear-mongering, lying Cheney. We and the Women of this country Got your Back, Nancy. And who in the hell does Newt Sin-rich Lead?

Posted by: tychisum | May 20, 2009 4:30:55 PM

It seems that the CIA can not confirm, or deny what the told and to whom. Perhaps the CIA should loose it's clearance.

Posted by: Thinking | May 20, 2009 4:52:45 PM

Just one more story without any reference to what is becoming a solidly proven fact: That Cheney ordered waterboarding to secure confessions, false or otherwise, establishing a connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda.
Whether or not the Speaker lied is relevant. Use of torture by an administration for political gain is a really big deal. It's time to put people under oath and get the facts.

Posted by: B. Bear | May 20, 2009 5:19:03 PM

Pelosi must go. She should lose more than her clearance, how about her job

Posted by: california fed-up | May 20, 2009 7:11:38 PM

B. Bear,

I agree, it IS relevant whether or not the Speaker lied. She should step down.

Posted by: california fed-up | May 20, 2009 7:14:20 PM

for once i have to agree with the repubs. If the speaker lied, she should be investigated and the truth be told. but im sure the repubs will agree that bush, cheney, condi, rummy, wolfy, gonzo and the entire bush administration should be investigated by the same special prosecutor. can i get an amen repubs.

Posted by: jimt | May 20, 2009 11:26:45 PM

Oh, about the security clearance? NOBODY, especially liberal democrats, from California should even be given a security clearance. They smoke way too much dope!

Posted by: Machod | May 21, 2009 2:24:42 AM

All the Democrats think all the Republicans are complaining and blaming, but being and Independent I have to disagree. The Democrats are doing all the complaining, blaming and whining while the Republicans fight amongst themselves. Pelosi,Reid and the rest of these Liberal Democrats are DANGEROUS and need to be removed from office or just resign.

Posted by: Obama Drama | May 21, 2009 7:53:57 AM

"GIVE IT A REST GOP!No one is Buying this Blame game Nonsense!"


Angie in Pa,

The only thing people are not buying is your liberal BS. You bash the formaer administration for what you call lying, then turn around and excuse Pelosi. TYPICAL, TYPICAL At least find some fresh material will ya?

Here is all the fun we are in for until the Dem clowns in congress totally implode.

--Lawmakers Reject Funding to Shut Down Detainee Center at Gitmo, Want Obama to Present a Plan--

Obama rushes to close GITMO, no plan, no real idea of what is going on, just alot of criticism to get elected. Now when it comes time to actually begin to implement the tough part....oh wow, guess what all these fools who claim to have such "high moral standing" on this issue DO NOT WANT the people in thier districts!!!! SO, NO MONEY...LOL

And people like you think that its a good idea to have this government actually controlling universal healthcare by summer! Yeah, I can see that working just as smooth as sandpaper!

Posted by: Mike_C | May 21, 2009 7:56:30 AM

Doesn't anyone remember 8 years of the Dems constantly focusing on who lied about WMD's. Back up another 8 years, you'll see both clintons, Gore, Pelosi, kennedy, PM of Britian etc, etc, all agreeing with the same intelligence Bush had. He just had the integrity to follow through with the empty threats the Dems made but were to scared to act on. SSDD & difference party.

Posted by: Harper | May 21, 2009 8:09:20 AM

Attention American people, now do you see why we never need to vote another Republican in Office again!

Posted by: Demo Rules | May 21, 2009 8:12:44 AM

Demo rules,

Yeah, We sure do need more people like Pelosi, Barney Frank, Ted Kenedy, Chris Dodd....etc....

NNNNNOOOOOOOTTTTTTT !!!!!

Posted by: Mike_C | May 21, 2009 9:15:33 AM

While I am no fan of Pelosi, these Republican attacks on her are distracting Congress from doing work. Typical Republican tactics - nothing but toxic partisan rhetoric - disgusting. What's even funnier is that Gingrich is attacking her when he has no credibility to start with. Didn't he leave office in disgrace? Regardless, until there is an investigation that proves otherwise, she is innocent of any inappropriate behavior.

Posted by: DaveM | May 21, 2009 9:46:10 AM

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