Hastings: Bill Clinton Talked Me Out of Intelligence Post

Impeached federal judge-cum-Congressman Alcee Hastings says Bill Clinton convinced him to drop his fight to chair the House Intelligence Committee, reports CQ National Security Editor Jeff Stein.

It was former President Bill Clinton who personally persuaded him to drop his bid for the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee last fall, Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla., says — not incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi or anyone else.

Breaking a six-month silence on an episode that gave the victorious Democrats fits and Republicans an easy mark, Hastings said there would have been “blood all over the floor” had he pursued the prestigious seat. “Had I had chosen that path, I could have demogogued on a whole set of persons,” said Hastings, the eight-term African-American who reached for the gavel of the Intelligence Committee after the Democrats took control of the House in the November elections.

Interesting.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Christopher says:

    The diseased leading the diseased.