This goes back a little ways. You may recall that after the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives last fall, there was discussion over who would become chair of the House Intelligence Committee. Representative Jane Harman was in line for it, but she had quarreled with Speaker Pelosi and so was denied the position. By multiple reports, Speaker Pelosi was prepared to name Alcee Hastings as the new chair–even though he had been impeached and removed as a federal judge. Eventually–it was reported—she relented. Now Congressman Hastings has done an interview with Congressional Quarterly in which he says that no, Speaker Pelosi was not going to deny him the chairmanship; he withdrew his own name. What led him to do such a thing? A chat with Bill Clinton: