Did Obama even consult with Janet Napolitano directly on the Crotch Bomber Christmas Day attack?

janet-napolitanoCNS News caught up with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on February the 4th asking her this question. Asked that question by CNSNews.com, Napolitano at first declined to answer and then. She was asked again and said “we were in contact with the president’s office” that day. The White House told news organizations on Christmas Day that President Obama had ordered heightened air travel security immediately after he was first briefed on the attempted attack at about 9:00 a.m. Hawaii time (2:00 p.m Eastern) on Christmas Day and that he was repeatedly briefed on the incident during that day.

On Feb. 4, Napolitano met privately with the Democratic—but not Republican—members of the committee. After that meeting, she also met privately with Rep. Pete King (R.-N.Y.), the committee’s ranking Republican.

When she emerged from her Feb. 4 meeting with committee Democrats, CNSNews.com asked Napolitano: “Madame Secretary, did the president personally consult with you at all in real time during the day of the Christmas Day attack about the Abdulmutallab situation?”

Napolitano said: “I’m not going to talk about my conversations with the president.”

Later, after her meeting with Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.), CNSNews.com asked Napolitano: “Before I was asking you about if you spoke to the president at all on Christmas Day about the Abdulmutallab situation–not the nature of the conversation. I just want to know if you spoke to him.”

Napolitano said: “Yes, we were in contact with the president’s office.”

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February 15, 2010 · Filed Under Janet Napolitano


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