Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi smiled as she denied reports that she spearheaded the Democratic revolt that led to President Biden dropping out of the race last month.
“No, I was not the leader of any pressure [campaign]”Rep. Pelosi, D-Calif., 84, told CBS News.
“Let me tell you what I didn’t do. I didn’t call anybody. I didn’t call anybody. I could always tell him, ‘I’m not calling anybody.'”
Ms. Pelosi, who has long been known as a shrewd and ruthless political activist, made headlines for behind-the-scenes scheming as a flurry of Democratic lawmakers called on Biden, 81, to endorse her.
At one point, Pelosi had Biden call longtime adviser Mike Donilon after he assured her he could not win the Nov. 5 election and polls suggested he could. CNN reported:.
Many observers also noted that key allies of Pelosi, such as Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), have joined calls among sitting Democrats for Biden to concede.
As one of the longest-serving leaders of the Democratic caucus, she was seen by some as giving her colleagues license to cast doubt on Biden’s eligibility for a second term.
Throughout the series of leaks, Pelosi’s office refrained from denying reports of a meeting with Biden.
In public, Pelosi Initially defended Biden This comes after his dismal performance in the June debate sparked a rebellion against him.
But then she appeared on television to suggest that his continued candidacy was an open question, even after the sitting president insisted he was “committed” to the race.
“It’s up to the president to decide whether he wants to run or not,” Pelosi said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“Time is running out and we’re all urging him to make a decision. It’s not for me to say anything about the overwhelming support of the caucus. I’m no longer head of the caucus, but he’s loved and respected and people want him to make the decision, not me.”
Asked at the time how committed Biden was to the campaign, Pelosi said, “Whatever he decides, we’ll follow that.”
Biden had initially publicly decided to continue the campaign, but many Democrats publicly said Biden still had to decide what to do, suggesting they were unhappy with Biden’s decision to continue the campaign.
Other top leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., also refused to disclose conversations they had with Biden during the insurrection.
Schumer urged Biden to step down. ABC reported. He has not denied the reports.
Pelosi stressed that she “has never publicly shared any conversations with the president of the United States.”
Biden is rumored to be “furious” about Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes role in the Democratic insurrection.
“He knows I love him very much,” the California Democrat said when asked how Biden now feels about her.
