Acting House Speaker Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has ordered Democrat Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to “immediately vacate” her office in the U.S. Capitol building.
McHenry reportedly sent an email to Pelosi on Tuesday night telling the former speaker to clear out her belongings.
The email to Pelosi’s office said the room would be reassigned for official speaker use.
“Please vacate the space tomorrow, the room will be re-keyed,” the email reads.
Pelosi is currently using a hideaway office, which only a handful of members receive.
Given that she is speaker emerita, McCarthy allowed Pelosi to occupy the space.
McHenry, a McCarthy ally, is clearly less keen on it, however.
She slammed the move, calling it “a sharp departure from tradition.”
“With all of the important decisions that the new Republican Leadership must address, which we are all eagerly awaiting, one of the first actions taken by the new Speaker Pro Tempore was to order me to immediately vacate my office in the Capitol,” Pelosi said in a statement.
McHenry became acting speaker Tuesday after eight House Republicans joined with Democrats to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the speakership in a historic vote.
McCarthy has become the first speaker in U.S. history to be removed from the position.
Pelosi missed Tuesday’s vote to return to California to mourn the passing of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).
“Sadly, because I am in California to mourn the loss of and pay tribute to my dear friend Dianne Feinstein, I am unable to retrieve my belongings at this time,” Pelosi said.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ staffers reportedly helped clean out Pelosi’s office late Tuesday.
A television and bags were seen outside the office before they were hauled away.
“Office space doesn’t matter to me, but it seems to be important to them,” Pelosi added.
“Now that the new Republican Leadership has settled this important matter, let’s hope they get to work on what’s truly important for the American people.”
On Tuesday, 8 Republicans and all Democrats present voted to oust McCarthy after 269 days as speaker.
Here are the House Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy:
- Andy Biggs of Arizona
- Ken Buck of Colorado
- Tim Burchett of Tennessee
- Eli Crane of Arizona
- Matt Gaetz of Florida
- Bob Good of Virginia
- Nancy Mace of South Carolina
- Matt Rosendale of Montana
"The office of Speaker of the House of the House of Representatives is hereby declared vacant."
For the first time in history, the House has voted, 216-210, to remove its Speaker.
8 Republicans joined every Democrat in voting out McCarthy.pic.twitter.com/QM6LvcwS2d
— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) October 3, 2023
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who led the charge to remove McCarthy, said:
“I have no desire to be speaker of the house.
“He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors.
“We are breaking the fever and we should elect a speaker who is better.”
