During a House hearing this morning, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano criticized the Drudge Report for highlighting stories about the department’s purchases of ammunition and MRAP (mine-resistant, ambush protected) vehicles.

Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., questioned Napolitano about the reports from Forbes magazine and other stories linked on the Drudge Report.

“You know, when Forbes magazine or Drudge or some reputable news sources start to repeat the numbers … the numbers cease to become Internet rumors, and they start having some credibility,” Duncan said questioning the “long delay” from the DHS to clarify the numbers.

“I will tell you, we found it so inherently unbelievable that statements would be made, it was hard to ascribe credibility to them,” Napolitano said, suppressing a bemused smile, adding that, “I don’t know if I’d put Forbes and Drudge in the same sentence.”

Napolitano explained that the number of rounds reported seemed high because it was an "up to number" and were purchased as part of a "five year strategic sourcing contract."

She reminded the audience that the DHS typically uses 150 to 160 million ammunition rounds a year.

Napolitano added that DHS didn't start refuting the reports until she started receiving congressional inquiries about the ammo purchases.

“If I might say in my own defense, we just couldn’t believe that anyone would believe those allegations, and so, let me be clear — absolutely not true,” Napolitano concluded.