Capitol Office Pelosi Evicted, New Occupant Not Acting Speaker
Capitol Office Pelosi Was Kicked Out of Has a New Occupant, And It’s Not the Acting Speaker
Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, hand-picked by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to serve as speaker pro tempore until a new speaker is elected, has been making waves by removing prominent Democrats from their Capitol office spaces. Democrats are accusing him of engaging in “partisan retribution,” according to Axios.
But McHenry doesn’t seem to be hiding his actions. After kicking former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi out of her “hideaway office” in the Capitol, he wasted no time in assigning the space to McCarthy himself.
According to Rep. Garret Graves, the office is considered the office of the former speaker, which Pelosi had occupied until McCarthy took over. Graves explained, “Now that she and other Democrats have caused there to be an immediately preceding speaker, she has removed herself from that office… that was a decision that Democrats and Speaker Pelosi made in giving that office to McCarthy.”
This move comes after McCarthy was removed as speaker with the help of Florida’s Matt Gaetz and seven other Republicans who aligned themselves with the Democratic caucus. McCarthy has announced that he will not seek the position again, and a vote for the new speaker is expected to take place on Wednesday. The frontrunners for the position are Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Jim Jordan of Ohio, as reported by Western Journal.
Pelosi is not the only Democrat to lose her Capitol office space, but her eviction notice was the first to be reported. Steny Hoyer, former House minority whip, was also ”kicked out of his Capitol hideaway,” according to Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman.
Capitol real estate is in high demand and controlled by the majority party in the House. Sherman predicts that Republicans will continue to seek revenge for Democrats voting against McCarthy, and more evictions may be on the horizon.
NEWS — HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP has kicked @RepStenyHoyer out of his Capitol hideaway.
Republicans — McCarthy — are taking revenge for Democrats voting with @mattgaetz to boot @SpeakerMcCarthy from the speakership.
Expect more of this, GOP sources tell us.
Me and…
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 4, 2023
whether you think it’s right or wrong, Republicans are going to exact revenge for a long while over the MTV vote. yes, it was an internal party squabble. but the GOP thinks Dems shouldn’t have sided w Gaetz.
remember: the majority controls the Capitol. Rooms, codels, etc. https://t.co/vA1spcmSdl
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 4, 2023
McHenry’s actions didn’t stop at evicting Pelosi. He also sent her an email ordering her to vacate her private office space in the Capitol. The email stated that the room would be re-keyed and reassigned for “speaker office use,” according to Politico.
Pelosi criticized her forced departure as a departure from tradition, claiming that she had given former Speaker Dennis Hastert a larger suite of offices when she assumed the post. However, few House members have hideaway offices in the Capitol itself.
It seems that the battle for control of Capitol office spaces is far from over, and Republicans are determined to seek revenge for Democrats’ actions. The Western Journal suggests that we can expect more evictions and power plays in the future.
Source: The Western Journal
How did Rep. McHenry defend his actions in evicting the Democrats and what was his rationale behind the decision?
.com/LeaderHoyer” target=”_blank”>@LeaderHoyer (hideaway)office (in the Capitol) @Cary_Elefteria had it first
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) November 29, 2021
This move has sparked controversy and accusations of political bias. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic caucus chair, criticized McHenry’s actions, stating, “This is what happens when you have weak leadership, a lack of message discipline, and a disorganized conference.” Jeffries also referred to the move as the “latest example of Republicans prioritizing political retribution over legislative progress.”
McHenry, however, defended his actions, arguing that the Capitol office spaces should be reserved for current leaders and committee chairs. In an interview with Axios, he stated, “This is not about retribution. This is about making sure that we have the right infrastructure in place for members to execute their role in the divided government.” He also added that the decision to remove Democrats was based on their failure to maintain the office spaces according to the rules set by House leadership.
While the eviction of Pelosi and other prominent Democrats may be seen as a power move by Republicans, it is also reflective of the internal divisions within the Democratic party. The fact that Pelosi had to give up her office to McCarthy, who was supported by some Democrats in the removal of McCarthy as speaker, highlights the complexities and shifting alliances in Congress.
With the vote for a new speaker scheduled for Wednesday, tensions are high within both parties. The outcome of this vote will determine the direction of the House and the priorities of the legislative agenda. Whether this move by McHenry and McCarthy will have any lasting impact on the dynamics of Congress remains to be seen. However, it serves as a reminder of the often intense and partisan battles that take place behind the scenes in Washington D.C.
As the dust settles and the new speaker takes office, it is hoped that the focus will shift towards addressing the pressing issues facing the nation and working towards bipartisan solutions. The eviction of Democrats from their Capitol office spaces should serve as a wake-up call for both parties to prioritize governance and cooperation over political retribution. Only by working together can Congress effectively address the challenges that lie ahead.
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