Pelosi rebukes interim speaker for office eviction as she attended Feinstein service
GuardianOct 04, 2023
The Facts
US Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), who is temporarily in charge of the House following a vote to vacate Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) speakership on Tuesday, has instructed former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to vacate her office in the Capitol building.
Offices such as Pelosi's, known as hideaways, are private, unlisted rooms used by the most senior-level officials in Congress and traditionally reserved for senators. McHenry's office said the room would be "re-keyed" Wednesday.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Not only did McHenry break the long-held tradition and shared courtesy of retaining Pelosi's office for the former speaker, but he did so on a day the congresswoman was out of town mourning the death of a colleague. The GOP may enjoy petty disputes within its own party, but they shouldn't let this overflow into the personal lives of politicians on the other side.
Republican narrative
If Pelosi wants to talk about tradition, hideaway offices are traditionally given to a select number of high-level officials, which Pelosi no longer is. It's true that McHenry needs to get to work, which is why he removed an irrelevant politician from an office meant to be used by relevant leaders.
