Theo Nash
In 2010, Michele Bachmann accused Nancy Pelosi of spending $100,000 of taxpayer money on alcohol for flights. This claim was based on documents obtained by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, which showed that Pelosi's congressional delegations spent $101,429.14 over two years on in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol. However, FactCheck.org and PolitiFact disputed Bachmann's interpretation of these documents, stating that the total cost of alcohol was likely less than $7,000, and that the per-participant expenses of Pelosi's delegations were comparable to those of her Republican predecessor, Dennis Hastert. Pelosi's office also denied the allegations, stating that she does not drink alcohol.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the person involved | Nancy Pelosi |
| Amount spent | $101,000 |
| What was it spent on | In-flight services including food and liquor |
| Who exposed the information | Judicial Watch |
| Year | 2010 |
| Source of the information | FOIA request |
| Alcohol bill | $560.28 |
| Number of International trips | 12 |
| Extrapolated cost of alcohol | Less than $7,000 |
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What You'll Learn
The figure is inaccurate
In 2010, Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, obtained Pelosi's travel expense reports, which showed that her congressional delegations, or CODELs, spent $101,429.14 over two years on "in-flight expenses, including food and alcohol." This led to accusations, notably by Michele Bachmann, that Pelosi had spent $100,000 of taxpayer money on alcohol alone.
However, this figure is inaccurate. While it is true that Pelosi's delegations spent a significant amount on alcohol, the total cost of alcohol was far less than $100,000. In fact, if we assume that no alcohol was served on her domestic flights (which made up most of her trips) and that she took 12 international trips, the total cost of alcohol would have been less than $7,000. Furthermore, the $101,429.14 figure given by Judicial Watch includes expenses other than food and alcohol, such as the cost of the Air Force jets themselves.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the practice of providing food and alcohol on congressional delegations is bipartisan and has been long-standing. Pelosi's Republican predecessor, Dennis Hastert, also provided snacks, alcohol, and meals to participating representatives, and the costs of his CODELs were comparable to those of Pelosi.
While the exact figure for alcohol expenditures is unclear, it is safe to say that the claim that Pelosi spent $100,000 specifically on alcohol is incorrect and based on a misinterpretation or exaggeration of the original Judicial Watch report.
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The expenses were not just for alcohol
In 2010, Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, obtained Nancy Pelosi's travel expense reports. The reports showed that Pelosi had spent over $100,000 of taxpayer money on "in-flight services," including food and alcohol. However, it is important to note that the expenses were not just for alcohol, as some critics have claimed.
While it is true that Pelosi's delegations did incur high costs for alcohol, with receipts showing purchases of top-shelf alcohol brands, the total amount included other expenses as well. The records show that Pelosi's congressional delegations (CODELs) also spent significant amounts on food, with one dinner bill for 98 people costing over $10,000, of which $3,807 was charged to the Air Force.
Furthermore, the costs of Pelosi's CODELs were comparable to those of her Republican predecessor, Dennis Hastert. Judicial Watch's documents included his travel receipts, which showed similar expenditures for his CODELs. In addition, it is worth noting that Pelosi herself does not drink alcohol, according to her staff.
While the high costs of Pelosi's in-flight expenses may be subject to criticism, it is important to recognize that they included a range of expenses beyond just alcohol. The expenses covered food, travel, and other related costs for participating representatives and their spouses. As such, the characterization of Pelosi's spending as solely for alcohol is misleading and does not provide a complete picture of her delegation's expenses.
In conclusion, while Nancy Pelosi's delegations did incur high costs for in-flight services, including alcohol, the expenses were not solely for alcohol as suggested by some critics. The costs also included food, travel, and other related expenses, and were comparable to those of previous speakers. Therefore, a more nuanced understanding of the expenses is necessary to accurately assess Pelosi's spending.
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Pelosi does not drink alcohol
In 2010, it was reported that Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, had spent over $100,000 of taxpayer money on alcohol for in-flight services. These reports were based on documents obtained by Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, which showed expenses of around $2.1 million for her use of Air Force jets for travel. The group claimed that these expenses were more about partying than anything else and the story was soon picked up by various news outlets and blogs. However, it is important to note that these claims have been disputed and fact-checked by multiple sources.
While it is true that Pelosi's congressional delegations incurred high costs for food and alcohol, the total amount includes expenses other than just liquor. In fact, it has been confirmed by multiple sources, including Pelosi's staff and spokesman, that Pelosi herself does not drink alcohol. She has been described as a teetotaler, and any claims of her being intoxicated or having a problem with alcohol are false. Videos and images that have circulated online purporting to show Pelosi under the influence have been manipulated or edited to give a false impression.
Despite this, the misconception that Pelosi is a heavy drinker persists, and she has even been accused of alcoholism by Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn, despite her well-known sobriety. These accusations were made amidst criticism of Cawthorn's own comments, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "thug". The irony of the situation has been noted, given that Pelosi does not drink, and the claims of her alcohol use have been consistently debunked.
The expenses in question are also not unusual or unique to Pelosi, as the costs are comparable to those of her Republican predecessor, Dennis Hastert. In fact, it is a long-standing bipartisan practice for congressional delegations to provide snacks, alcohol, and meals to participating representatives and their spouses. Therefore, while the high costs of in-flight services may be a cause for concern, the specific focus on Pelosi's alcohol spending appears to be misplaced and based on inaccurate information.
In conclusion, while there were reports of Nancy Pelosi spending $100,000 of taxpayer money on alcohol, these claims are misleading and have been disputed. Pelosi herself does not drink alcohol, and the expenses in question include a variety of other costs beyond just liquor. The story gained traction through conservative groups and media outlets, but it is important to rely on factual information and not perpetuate false narratives about public figures.
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The expenses were comparable to Pelosi's predecessor
In 2010, it was reported that Nancy Pelosi, the then-Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, had spent over $100,000 of taxpayer money on alcohol. However, this claim has been disputed. While it is true that Pelosi's delegations incurred such expenses, the total included expenses other than alcohol, and the alcohol was consumed by members of Congress other than Pelosi, who does not drink.
The expenses were comparable to those of Pelosi's predecessor, Paul Ryan, who served as the 54th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. During his tenure, Ryan faced criticism for his use of Air Force funds for speaker travel. Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, obtained travel expense reports for both Ryan and Pelosi, revealing similar expenditures for their respective congressional delegations, or CODELs.
In a two-year period, Ryan's CODEL expenditures amounted to $302 per participant, excluding air travel for one trip, while Pelosi's CODEL expenditures averaged $310 per participant. These expenses included food and alcohol, with receipts showing purchases of top-shelf alcohol brands such as Maker's Mark, Courvoisier, Grey Goose, and Bombay Sapphire.
It is important to note that the practice of providing snacks, alcohol, and meals to participating representatives and their spouses during CODEL flights is bipartisan and has been long-standing. While the appropriateness of using Air Force funds for such purposes may be debated, it is a matter that involves Congress and the Air Force, rather than solely the current speaker.
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The expenses were for Pelosi's congressional delegations
In 2010, Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group, obtained Nancy Pelosi's travel expense reports. The group claimed that Pelosi had a history of "wasting taxpayer funds with her boorish demands for military travel". They alleged that her trips were more about partying than anything else.
These claims were based on the interpretation that Pelosi had spent over $100,000 on alcohol alone. However, this figure was disputed by FactCheck.org, which stated that the $100,000 in expenses was not just for food and alcohol, but for other expenses as well. They also pointed out that the costs were comparable to those of Pelosi's Republican predecessor, Dennis Hastert.
Pelosi's office denied the allegations, stating that she does not drink alcohol. They also noted that food and beverages left over after a trip are stored for future travel. Furthermore, an examination of the documents revealed that Judicial Watch had overstated the amount spent on "in-flight expenses" for Pelosi's congressional delegations.
While it is true that international delegations showed receipts for hundreds of dollars worth of top-shelf alcohol, the total cost of alcohol was likely much lower than the $100,000 claimed by critics. The expenses in question were for Pelosi's congressional delegations, which included other members of Congress who did drink alcohol.
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Frequently asked questions
No, this claim has been deemed false. While Pelosi's delegations did spend that amount, it was not just on alcohol.
The money was spent on "in-flight services", including food and alcohol, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trips on Air Force jets.
The claim was made by Michele Bachmann, R-Minn, in 2010. She accused Pelosi of "sticking the taxpayer with her $100,000 bar tab for alcohol on the military jets that she's flying."
It is unclear how much Pelosi spent on alcohol. However, if we assume that no alcohol was served on her domestic flights and that she took 12 international trips, the total cost of alcohol would have been less than $7,000.
