House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters last night that she “doesn’t care” if Secret Service said it could handle securing the State of the Union Address during the partial government shutdown, according to the Daily Caller’s Kerry Picket.
Instead, Picket writes, Pelosi “stood firm” in her calls to delay the President’s address, telling reporters “It’s about security. It’s about security.”
“I don’t care what they said,” said Pelosi when told that Secret Service stated they were prepared to secure the Congressional event.
In a letter to the President yesterday, Pelosi claimed the lack of funding due to the government shutdown would pose a security risk to the address.
“Sadly, given the security concerns and unless government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union address in writing to the Congress on January 29th,” she wrote.
However, both Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen contradicted Pelosi’s statement, saying they were equipped and ready to handle the event.
NBC reporter Peter Alexander wrote on Twitter that a Secret Service official said of the State of the Union address, “We’ve been planning this for months, as we always do….” The official said securing the event was a “no-fail mission.”
"We've been planning for this for months, as we always do. It didn't start up 29 days ago," the official said. (2/2)
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) January 16, 2019
DHS Secretary Nielsen stated yesterday, “The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the Service for their mission focus and dedication and for all they do each day to secure our homeland.”
The Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are fully prepared to support and secure the State of the Union. We thank the Service for their mission focus and dedication and for all they do each day to secure our homeland.
— Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) January 16, 2019
