US Interim Speaker Relocates Two Senior Democrats from Capital
Nancy Pelosi and her long-time Deputy Steny Hoyer have been ordered to leave their workspace in the United States (US) Capital by acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry.
Both were told locks on their office doors will be “re-keyed” on Wednesday.
The evictions come after Kevin McCarthy was removed from the chamber’s plum post on Tuesday and Mr. Mchenry was appointed in the interim.
Mrs. Pelosi, who is not currently in Washington, criticized the decision as “a sharp departure from tradition”.
Republican Congressman, Garret Graves announced on Wednesday that her office would be handed over to Mr. Mccarthy. He said it is supposed to belong to the “preceding speaker”.
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While it is rare for members of congress who are not in leadership roles to have offices in the capitol building, Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Hoyer had so-called hideaways as former speaker and majority leader.
Both democrats will, however, retain their regular workspaces in the house office buildings.
According to Politico, which initially reported the eviction demands, belongings belonging to Mrs. Pelosi were being packed up on Tuesday evening with the assistance of staff for her successor, Hakeem Jeffries.
In a lengthy news conference, Mr McCarthy said he would not run for Speaker again.
He also alleged that, when he became Speaker, Mrs Pelosi had promised to “always back [him] up” if he faced a motion to vacate.
But Mrs Pelosi was notably absent from Tuesday’s vote, leaving early before Ms Feinstein’s funeral, and her party said it would not step in to rescue Mr McCarthy.
In the official congressional record, she announced that she would have voted to remove Mr McCarthy if she had been present.
Mr McHenry, 47, is a close ally to Mr McCarthy and was a key power-broker during his nine-month speakership.
