Boehner Cool on Napolitano Resignation Push
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House Republican Leader John Boehner stopped short of supporting a push by some conservatives to oust Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
House Republican Leader John A. Boehner stopped short of calling for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step aside on Thursday - the day after a small band of vocal conservatives called for her ouster.
Asked specifically if he would ask President Barack Obama to remove Napolitano, the Republican leader was non-committal, saying instead, "I'm sure this subject will come up at the White House later today."
Conservatives remain upset about a controversial memo that highlighted the threats posed by "right-wing extremists," but questions remain about the origins of that document.
Party leaders haven't taken an official position on the Homeland Security secretary since a small core of conservatives started to agitate for her removal on Wednesday. A group of conservatives asked Boehner on Wednesday to ask the president to remove Napolitano from that post, aides said, and Texas Rep. John Carter, a member of the elected leadership, organized an hour of floor speeches Wednesday night to make the point for C-SPAN viewers.
Asked about the memo on Thursday, Boehner said, "Secretary Napolitano has an awful lot of explaining to do."
Of the memo itself, Boehner said, "It's bizarre. I and my colleagues are trying to understand who wrote this report. Why wasn't it edited?"
