Bad Actors? Pelosi and McGovern
UPDATE: Rep. Jim McGovern’s Press Secretary Michael Mershon responded to my requests for additional information. View his statement in its entirety HERE.
Are Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) bad actors in a tragedy about the Separation of Powers?
In Spring 2007, Speaker Pelosi visited Syria, where she met with President Bashar Assad in a highly publicized, and much criticized trip. She was the poster child for Obama-esque ‘without pre-condition’ foreign policy. But this year, the Speaker chose to avoid the limelight, allegedly preferring to task loyal foot soldier Rep. Jim McGovern with chatting up leftist guerillas closely affiliated with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia (FARC) - a group identified by the US State Department as terrorists. Not to mention the talks with Columbian Senator Piedad Cordoba, who remainsunder investigation by the Columbian Attorney General - and who is closely aligned with Venezuelan dictator/President Hugo Chavez.
Much of the main stream media seems content to ignore the Pelosi-McGovern-FARC story. Too much of a political hot potato. Brings to mind Pelosi’s own language regarding Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s repeated attempts to impeach President Bush. Remember? She told us all that was ‘off the table.’ Until yesterday, when Pelosi indicated that Kucinich’s latest attempt might get hearings.
Insert the uncomfortable pause here. All is fair in love and politricks.
So I placed a few calls. Speaker Pelosi’s press staff: delightful but refused to provide on-the-record comments each of the several times we spoke. I’m still waiting to hear back from McGovern’s office. Somehow, I am unsurprised by the lack of candor.
In multiple conversations with sources close to Speaker Pelosi, I was told the assertions made in the Wall Street Journal reports are “categorically false” and “without merit.” (This wins the prize for least original evasive answer)
Gee, I suppose if a Republican stood accused of colluding with a terrorist to undermine the democratically elected government of a US ally that it would be a non-story. Oh wait… the entire country would be enraged. And demanding answers. Hearings. Accountability.
This is where the average American should step in. Call Speaker Pelosi. 202.225.0100. The role of Speaker of the House is supposed to transcend partisan politics. She is a public servant. Our tax dollars may have funded these misadventures.
Never ask permission to engage in our national dialogue. Your tax dollars matter. And Speaker Pelosi should address this Obama-esque policy directly. Was she engaging with an agent of a foreign government to undermine our ally, the democratically elected government in Columbia? Did Speaker Pelosi direct Rep. McGovern to tell FARC that all military aid from the US to Columbia would be suspended under an Obama presidency?
If Speaker Pelosi was a pawn in McGovern’s game, where he invoked her name to play-up his own street-cred and power - then Pelosi should promptly throw him from the Democratic train. Give him a little partisan spanking. Go public. Offer a little straight-talk to the American people.
From the Wall Street Journal… House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may well have committed a felony in traveling to Damascus this week, against the wishes of the president, to communicate on foreign-policy issues with Syrian President Bashar Assad. The administration isn’t going to want to touch this political hot potato, nor should it become a partisan issue. Maybe special counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, whose aggressive prosecution of Lewis Libby establishes his independence from White House influence, should be called back.
The Logan Act makes it a felony and provides for a prison sentence of up to three years for any American, “without authority of the United States,” to communicate with a foreign government in an effort to influence that government’s behavior on any “disputes or controversies with the United States.”
A hard drive recovered from the computer of a killed Colombian guerrilla has offered more insights into the opposition of House Democrats to the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
A military strike three weeks ago killed Raúl Reyes, No. 2 in command of the FARC, Colombia’s most notorious terrorist group. The Reyes hard drive reveals an ardent effort to do business directly with the FARC by Congressman James McGovern (D., Mass.), a leading opponent of the free-trade deal. Mr. McGovern has been working with an American go-between, who has been offering the rebels help in undermining Colombia’s elected and popular government.
Mr. McGovern’s press office says the Congressman is merely working at the behest of families whose relatives are held as FARC kidnap hostages. However, his go-between’s letters reveal more than routine intervention. The intervenor with the FARC is James C. Jones, who the Congressman’s office says is a “development expert and a former consultant to the United Nations.” Accounts of Mr. Jones’s exchanges with the FARC appeared in Colombia’s Semana magazine on March 15. This Mr. Jones should not be confused with the former Congressman and ambassador to Mexico of the same name from Oklahoma.
“Receive my warm greetings, as always, from Washington,” Mr. Jones began in a letter to the rebels last fall. “The big news is that I spoke for several hours with the Democratic Congressman James McGovern. In the meeting we had the opportunity to exchange some ideas that will be, I believe, of interest to the FARC-EP [popular army].”
Last fall, Mr. Chávez and the FARC hatched an audacious plan whereby the Venezuelan would take “proof of life” of Ms. Betancourt to French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, where the plight of Ms. Betancourt was a cause célèbre. The rebels wrote that Mr. Chávez was sure French pressure for negotiations would cause President Bush to “order Uribe to allow the meeting” between Mr. Chávez and the rebels on Colombian soil, something Mr. Uribe had refused to do. The rebels reported that Mr. Chávez was “super-motivated,” because he viewed the rendezvous as a public-relations coup that would give him and the FARC “continental and world renown.”
That plan flopped, but Mr. Chavez had other cards up his sleeve. One involved Ms. Cordoba, who is currently under investigation by the Colombian attorney general for ties to the FARC. She figures prominently in the captured rebel documents, and is notoriously close to Mr. Chávez.
She met at the Venezuelan presidential palace with FARC leaders last fall. From that meeting the rebels reported that “Piedad says that Chávez has Uribe going crazy. He doesn’t know what to do. That Nancy Pelosi helps and is ready to help in the swap [hostages in exchange for captured guerrillas]. That she has designated [U.S. Congressman Jim] McGovern for this.”
If the speaker of the House was working with Ms. Cordoba in this scheme, her judgment was more than a little misguided. The rebels write that on a trip to Argentina Ms. Cordoba told them, “It doesn’t matter to me the proposal that Sarkozy has made to free Ingrid. Above all, do not liberate Ingrid.” In short, why give up such a useful pawn?
Here is the text of the Logan Act:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply himself, or his agent, to any foreign government, or the agents thereof, for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
STATEMENT FROM REP. JIM MCGOVERN’S PRESS SECRETARY MICHAEL MERSHON:
It’s important to remember that what INTERPOL determined is that there was no evidence of any tampering of the FARC computers by the Colombian military once the military took possession of those computers. Which is very good news. What INTERPOL did NOT determine, of course, was whether any of the statements in those computers were somehow empirically true. Which, of course, they could not, as we made very clear in our letter to the Wall Street Journal.
As to the Journal column in question which attacked Colombian-based human rights groups for their alleged ties to the FARC (therefore suggesting that the FARC would easily be convinced to turn the hostages over to these groups), we were disappointed to see that one of the Colombian military members involved in the hostage rescue was wearing the insignia of the International Committee of the Red Cross during the mission, in apparent violation of the Geneva Conventions. We were pleased to see that President Uribe has apologized for that error.
As to the specific questions you have asked:
Rep. McGovern met with Sen. Cordoba during the time she was the official mediator (appointed by President Uribe) for a potential humanitarian exchange of the hostages. She also met with high-level U.S. State Department officials during this period.
Rep. McGovern never said that Sen. Obama would win the election. At the time, he was a strong supporter of Sen. Clinton.
Rep. McGovern never ‘ensured’ the end of military aid to Colombia. He doesn’t believe that would be a proper policy position to take. He has argued, and will continue to argue, that a higher percentage of our aid should be used for the building of civilian and judicial institutions in Colombia; for economic redevelopment; and for assistance to the hundreds of thousands of Colombians who have been internally displaced by the conflict.
I have attached a copy of Rep. McGovern’s floor statement from yesterday’s debate on an amendment offered by House Republican Whip Roy Blunt to the intelligence authorization bill. It lays out a lot of his thinking about the way forward, and I hope you find it useful.
I’d be happy to respond by e-mail to any other specific questions you may have.
Regards,
Michael Mershon, Press Secretary
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA)
July 11th, 2008 at 8:17 am
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 07/11/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day…so check back often.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Media Lizzy,
You ask many compelling and provocative questions here, but you (and your cited sources) fail to truly answer them. Instead, it seems the purpose of this article is merely to float some harsh charges to plant a seed of doubt regarding Pelosi’s leadership.
Regarding your cited sources, you take their fairly innocuous contents and “extrapolate” a wildly fanciful tale of sedition from them. To me (and it seems the entirety of the mainstream media) these douments only point to the fact that Pelosi and McGovern were ardently interested in recovering hostages.
Likewise, any claims that Pelosi’s trip to Syria violated the Logan act are specious at best. As speaker in the house, she weilds a level of power and influence second to the president himself. To conclude that her official actions are somehow “without the authority of the United States” is without merit.
In conclusion, I think the only crime you could charge Speaker Pelosi with is DwL (Driving while Liberal).
July 11th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Thanks, Pete.
The post is meant to ask the provocative questions. And given the language of the Logan Act, her trip to Syria certainly is in the grey area. On the Columbia situation: Interpol authenticated the documents and computer data seized from Raul Reyes — it’s important to ask. Pelosi & Congressional Democrats have been very aggressive in pursuing Administration officials for even the tiniest of infraction - real or imagined.
Let’s look at fairness in governance. What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Media Lizzy,
Why isn’t the Republican leadership pursuing these angles of attack? They have access to all of the procedural techniques the Democrats had when that party was in the minority.
July 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Pete:
Because they are into incumbent-protection, taking a bold stance isn’t something they have shown much willingness to accomplish. Unless and until, average Americans stand up and demand leadership - before, during and after elections - the status quo will remain intact.
I want folks to start asking the questions, get informed, engage with leaders of both parties. Shake it up a little. The folks in Congress work for We the People, not the other way around.
Lizzy
July 11th, 2008 at 11:52 am
You expected different from the leftist anti-American wing of the Democratic (Socialist) party when they gained power? Please read Marx, Engels, and Lenin. You won’t be surprised the next time.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
It is clear that the Leftinistra will color this turd a pretty color but the fact remains…a turd will remain a turd no matter how many coats of paint are applied. Also, one cannot pick up a turd by the clean end.
Pelosi’s actions are directly violating the Logan Act as well as the Smith Act.
The reason the GOP/RNC will not “check this out” is because, coming from a Grunt, cowards.
July 12th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Pelosi has been dramatically non-partisan in her dealings with the illegalities of the Bush administration, but now her hand has been forced by Kucinich and the International Red Cross, which may file war crimes charges against the US for its policy of torture. President Bush has gotten a pass from the Democratic Congress, which just wants to get to November without distracting from the elections, but that may no longer be possible. The American public and the world community deserve better oversight of this renegade bunch which uses the executive as a personal weapon.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Is she failing to transend Party Politics? What a stupid question! The Democrats and the Republicans have done a fine job of joining together to destroy the Constitution and our Bill of Rights. I will NEVER vote for Any Republican OR Democrat for Any office EVER again!
July 12th, 2008 at 11:41 am
There must be something very wrong when the leader of our Congress who has a 96% DISAPPROVAL, with her faithful ultra-liberal cronies, is able to maintain the Republicans, and Democrats too who have no fortitude, at bay and cowered in dark corners to avoid notice and afraid to cross swords with her.
Where are those congressmen, of both parties, who during election hit hard on the podium with promises to look after the People. Instead, they sheepishly line up to sign whatever she asks them.
July 12th, 2008 at 11:47 am
There is one huge common factor in democrats and republicans…they have both done nothing to help this country and are well on their way to ruining it. I just want one person to stand up and admit they’ve been screwing up and they want to fix it…It’s never gonna happen until WE THE PEOPLE start standing up and demanding it. This country is a mess because of BOTH parties…..
July 12th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
When Nancy Pelosi became speaker of the house, she stated that she will get us out from being depended on foreign oil, well the price of gas back then was in the low $2dollar range. She is the same when she was in Calif. I never voted for her, Just look what she and all the rest of her party have done to Calif, and now My United States
July 12th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
media Lizzy: yet another right wing smear artist. The Republicans meet with this or that bad guy or friends and it’s ok; as soon as a Democrat does it it’s apparently treason.
But I think when the McCain campaign actually says that a terrorist attack on the US would be good for them, that is TREASON ! Hang the whole BS Bus [polite torture first please].
Bush-Cheney and now McCain, have been responsible for this stupid war. ONLY 16 US intelligence agencies have said it has INCREASED hatred for the US and thereofore terrorism! Terrorist incidents are UP 700% since the Republicans started this wasteful war [and diverted troops/supplies, from the real war in Afgan, yet another critical blunder !]
The Republican party leadership is guilty for the 34,000 dead and wounded US troops in Iraq. Guilty of WEAKENING the US dollar, economy, and military [so say US Generals]. AND let’s not forget that they were in total control of the White House and Congress for 6 years, and did nothing about alternative energy [or even their new mantra, new drilling, although the oil firms already have the rights to drill on an area the size of Indiana and Ohio, yet refuse to do so???]
The entire US airlines industry has just said it is facing almost total failure due to oil speculators and calls for Congress to immediately investigate further; they will probably find that just like with Bush’s friends at the failed Enron, the BS behind this situation is wide and deep.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
OhioGuy:
Thank you!!!! “right wing smear artist” - aren’t you creative!
Oceans of partisan love… Media Lizzy
July 12th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
It does seem that in two ways, you are against fact finding and information gathering. You do not seem to like what our representatives may be doing as regular routine gathering of on the scene information rather than relying on political hoo haas that may be a bit glossy. This is called checking what is actually going on and getting the facts straight. The other way that you seem to be against this process is in making your own assumptions that some thing more is going on based on little fact finding on your part.
I am bothered by people who jump to conclusions with little information and am glad that our representatives are being more thorough than you are to come to your conclusions about them! I am not so bothered by your allegations because they seem to be based on next to nothing. I hope you do not run for an elected office. Best wishes gathering information in the future.
July 12th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
So, linamarta - Interpol’s authentication isn’t good enough for you?
I am all for fact-finding. I would just feel more confident in the information if it was verified by an independent source. Certainly, Speaker Pelosi and Representative McGovern should be afforded every opportunity to present evidence of their innocence. Especially if Columbia’s Senator Piedad Cordoba is taking liberties with their words, deeds, or intentions that are based not in fact, but on lies.
I think US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald is a fair minded fellow, I’m confident he could get the job done. Et tu?
July 13th, 2008 at 6:53 am
First, to ohioguy7, so you think if we just left Iraq alone, and didn’t fight radical Islam there, it wouldn’t be on your doorstep within a few years? They don’t care where we are in the world, they want to spread radical Islam by any means necessary. Whether its by force, or just through immigration and getting enough of their people into a country to influence policy (like England and France), they want to spread Islam throughout the world. England is considering allowing aspects of Sharia law, such as the marrying of first cousins. Don’t know what Sharia law is? Look it up, I guarantee you won’t like it. In Scotland, local Muslims are in an uproar. Why? Because a local police department put a picture of their new police dog, a 6 week old puppy, on a public information postcard. Because dogs are “ritually unclean.” You want to deal with garbage like that in Ohio? Fine, then we’ll just stop fighting radical Islam, and you’ll get your wish soon enough. And for linamarta, you want to talk about fact-finding? Find some facts on your savior Obama, and you’ll find out that he’s the most leftist, Marxist, Communist, and Socialist candidate for president from a major party that America has ever seen. But you all just follow along, oblivious to the facts, because he’s for “change, hope, and the future.” Change into what? You just might get your wish, and I’m gonna bet you won’t like it.
July 13th, 2008 at 6:54 am
If the only reason oil is so expensive is because of speculative investing,why dont the left wing nut jobs find out who is one of the biggest speculators of all time.George Sorros ring any bells?
July 14th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Why ask such an obvious and rhetorical question.
Does a bear s___ in the woods? would have been equally as relevant.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Pelosi is a traitor and should be arrested, tried, found guilty and punished. Liberalism is a clear and present danger to western civilization and must be stamped out before it causes the West to fall.
July 18th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Hmm I can see you lean far right in your reporting, One the Speaker has th right to meet with anyone she wishes , Last time I chaecked America was a free country regardless of the actios of Bush and company. Also you fell to mention the Rep. McGovern was speaking to the FARC at a time whenmany others were doing so inhopes of getting hostages released, including american hostages, How mch do you really even know about Colombia? I thnk your type of polticics is what is destroying America
July 20th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Michael-
And I think your disregard for the rule of law when it comes to Speaker Pelosi is just the sort of politics that destroys confidence in our government. The Logan Act and the Smith Act matter. Speaker Pelosi is not above the law.
—Media Lizzy