Politics

Pelosi: What I meant to say is that I want to investigate the opposition AND those behind the mosque

Amanda Carey Contributor
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released a statement Wednesday addressing criticisms of her remarks yesterday calling for an investigation into the opposition of the Ground Zero mosque.

“The freedom of religion is a Constitutional right,” Pelosi said in the press release. “Where a place of worship is located is a local decision.”

She continued: “I support the statement made by the Interfaith Alliance that ‘We agree with the ADL that there is a need for transparency about who is funding the effort to build this Islamic center.  At the same time, we should also ask who is funding the attacks against the construction of the center.’”

Pelosi failed to mention in her comments Tuesday on a San Francisco radio station that she also advocates a probe into the funding of the construction of the Cordoba House mosque and Islamic center in addition to an investigation into the those opposed to building it.

“There is no question there is a concerted effort to make this a political issue by some. And I join those who have called for looking into how is this opposition to the mosque being funded,” she said on KCBS Radio.

Her statements come on the heels of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaking out in opposition the mosque at Ground Zero, and President Obama’s comments supporting it in the name of religious freedom.

When contacted by The Daily Caller, a spokesperson from Speaker Pelosi’s office said that the press release “speaks to her posiiton on transparency on both sides.” He also said that the outrage over Pelosi’s call for an investigation has been “overblown.”