Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Politely Disagrees With “Sh*t-Stirring” “Rat”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- NV), a strong opponent of storing nuclear waste in Nevada’s Yucca Mountain, was asked recently whether Bill Magwood, a fellow Democrat, had a chance to become the next chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We guess this is a no?

“I try never to say bad things about people [but]…Bill Magwood is one of the” — [pause] — “most unethical, prevaricating” — [long pause] — “incompetent people I’ve ever dealt with. The man sat in that chair — right there — and lied to me. I’ve never, ever in my life had anyone do that. Never.”

Magwood, who is currently a commissioner at the NRC, apparently promised Reid and senior White House official Pete Rouse that he would support Reid’s efforts to shut down the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage project. Instead, however, Magwood went on to block the measure:

“That man I will never, ever forget what a treacherous, miserable liar he is. I met with him because Pete Rouse asked me to meet with him. I said, ‘Is he OK on Yucca Mountain?’ Pete said, ‘Yeah.’ So I went through some detail with him as to how important this was to me. ‘Senator, I know this industry like the back of my hand. You don’t have to worry about me,’ [Magwood said]. And the conversation was much deeper than that.”

This is not the first time Magwood has pissed off his bosses. Or even the second time. Late in 2011, Magwood — ostensibly a Democrat – reportedly worked with Republicans and the nuclear industry to oust then-NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko. In the 1990s, Magwood allegedly conspired to oust his boss at the Department of Energy, Terry Lash. In other words:

“He’s a first-class rat… He is a tool of the nuclear industry. A tool. Magwood was a shit-stirrer. He did everything he could do to embarrass Greg Jaczko,” Reid said.

Got that? Now stop asking him clown questions, bro.

/

Photo: UNLV Photo Services / GERI KODEY

/