President Trump and his national security team did not inform House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of the planned raid to take out ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi over the weekend. Why? They didn't trust her with the details of the operation.
“We were going to notify them last night but we decided not to do that because Washington leaks like I’ve never seen before. There’s nothing, there’s no country in the world that leaks like we do. And Washington is a leaking machine. And I told my people we will not notify them until our great people are out. Not just in, but out. I don’t want to have them greeted with firepower like you wouldn’t believe,” Trump announced after the raid, confirming al-Baghdadi was dead.
This didn't sit well with Pelosi or her fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill.
“The House must be briefed on this raid, which the Russians but not top congressional leadership were notified of in advance, and on the Administration’s overall strategy in the region. Our military and allies deserve strong, smart and strategic leadership from Washington,” she released in a statement.
But former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is calling Pelosi out on her outrage and said during an interview with Fox and Friends this week that it is standard practice not to inform the Speaker, or other politicians, of sensitive military operations.
The idea that politicians need to be briefed on a military operation while young men &women are risking their lives is ridiculous. When I was Speaker, there were operations I wasn't briefed on until over. Pelosi knows this, but couldn't resist an opportunity to attack Pres. Trump pic.twitter.com/09gXilIxK5
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) October 28, 2019
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have requested a briefing on the raid and the administration's overall strategy to continue combatting ISIS. That request has been granted.
Senate-wide briefing tomorrow on al Baghdadi raid. Schumer says it will be Esper and Miley. But not Pompeo.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 29, 2019