Pelosi: President’s Recess Appointment of John Bolton is a ‘Mistake’

Pelosi: President’s Recess Appointment of John Bolton is a ‘Mistake’

Monday, August 1, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

San Francisco â€" House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on President Bush’s use of a recess appointment to name John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations.

â€Å"The President’s decision to circumvent the Senate and use a recess appointment naming John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations is a mistake.

â€Å"John Bolton’s record provides no evidence of the kind of diplomatic skill, temperament and judgment that ought to be prerequisites for this critical position. There are serious unanswered questions about whether Mr. Bolton improperly used sensitive intelligence information for political purposes, which contributed to the lack of support he had in the Senate.

â€Å"For President Bush to use a recess appointment for such a controversial nominee â€" not because there was a compelling case that Mr. Bolton was the best person for the job, but merely because the President had the power to do it â€" subverts the confirmation process in ways that will further harm the United States’ reputation in the eyes of the international community. The American people deserve better.”