A smiling former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi denied reports that she spearheaded the Democratic mutiny that culminated with President Biden dropping out of the race last month.
“No, I wasn’t the leader of any pressure [campaign],” Pelosi (D-Calif.), 84, told CBS News.
“Let me say things that I didn’t do: I didn’t call one person. I did not call one person. I could always say to him, ‘I never called anybody.’”
Pelosi’s behind-the-scenes machinations during the outpour of Democrats calling on Biden, 81, have been widely reported. She has long had a reputation for being a savvy and ruthless political operative.
At one point, Pelosi firmly told Biden that he couldn’t win the Nov. 5 election and when he suggested polls indicated he could pull it off, she had him put his longtime adviser Mike Donilon on the phone, CNN reported.
Many observers also noted that key Pelosi allies such as Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) had joined the chorus of calls among sitting Democrats for Biden to throw in the towel.
Given her standing as one of the longest-serving leaders of congressional Democrats, she was seen by some as giving her colleagues the green light to cast aspersions on Biden’s fitness for a second term.
During the slew of leaks, Pelosi’s office refrained from denying reports about her meetings with Biden.
In public, Pelosi initially defended Biden after his disastrous debate performance in June, which triggered the revolt against him.
But then, she went on television and seemed to suggest his continued candidacy was an open question — even after the incumbent president insisted he was “firmly committed” to the contest.
“It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run,” Pelosi told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. The, I think, overwhelming support of the caucus, it’s not for me to say. I’m not the head of the caucus anymore, but he’s beloved, he is respected, and people want him to make that decision. Not me.”
At the time, when she was pressed about how Biden was committed to the race, Pelosi replied, “Whatever he decides, we go with.”
Biden had initially publicly decided to stay in the race, but numerous Democrats publicly stated that he still had to choose what to do — suggesting they were unhappy with his decision to keep running.
Other top leaders — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have also declined to divulge their conversations with Biden during the mutiny.
Schumer had gone so far as to urge Biden to step aside, ABC reported — a report he has not denied.
Pelosi stressed that she has “never shared any conversations with the president of the United States publicly.”
Biden is rumored to be “furious” with Pelosi over her purported role from behind the scenes during the Democratic revolt against him.
“He knows that I love him very much,” the Golden State Democrat remarked when asked about Biden’s mood toward her now.
