Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is planning to step down from Democratic Party leadership but remain in Congress as a backbencher, according to a new leak.
Pelosi’s plans for being in the House minority were reportedly leaked to Puck News ahead of her midday announcement on Thursday.
Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff has disputed the report ahead of Pelosi’s announcement, however.
According to Puck News: “Sometime around noon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will walk out onto the House floor to take her final bow after 19 years as head of the Democratic caucus with a speech about passing the torch from one generation to the next, I’m told.
“But instead of riding high into retirement, as has long been assumed, or becoming ambassador to Italy—a diplomatic posting the White House has been holding open for her—Pelosi will announce that she plans to stay in Congress as a backbencher, roaming the halls in a sort of emeritus role and helping to guide Democrats through their turn in the minority.
“The decision to step down from leadership was reached over the weekend, as I reported on Monday, after Pelosi crafted a retirement speech with the help of the celebrity historian and presidential biographer Jon Meacham, a favorite of the Democratic elite, including Joe Biden, for exactly these types of moments.
“I was told there were multiple drafts of the speech, signifying Pelosi’s indecision and the fluidity of the midterm election results.”
NEW: On the House floor at noon, Pelosi will say in a speech crafted in part by Jon Meacham that she intends to pass the torch to the next generation of leadership but will stay on as a backbencher to help guide future leader Hakeem Jeffries https://t.co/2tIhc85niv
— Tara Palmeri (@tarapalmeri) November 17, 2022
Pelosi’s Deputy Chief of Staff Drew Hammill disputed the report, saying:
“Speaker Pelosi has been overwhelmed by calls from colleagues, friends and supporters.
“This evening, the Speaker monitored returns in the three remaining critical states.
“The Speaker plans to address her future plans tomorrow to her colleagues. Stay tuned.
“I hate to break it to my favorite reporter but the Speaker took two versions of her speech home last night as has been reported.
“Anybody who tells you they know what she will do is a liar.
“Always something to hear from @tarapalmeri from @PuckNews who has zero sourcing in Pelosi world but is constantly trying to break news nevertheless.
“Since she rarely includes my responses, I’ll go ahead & tweet before she posts as yet again nothing in her reporting is correct.
“The Speaker has not made a decision about her future.
“As the Speaker just stated yesterday on national TV, she will make a decision once all the votes have been counted.
“She’s not even thinking about her future at this moment.
“The Speaker has no interest in becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Italy. She intends to continue serving in Congress regardless of her decision about House Democratic leadership.
“She said that yesterday on the Sunday shows.”
I hate to break it to my favorite reporter but the Speaker took two versions of her speech home last night as has been reported. Anybody who tells you they know what she will do is a liar. https://t.co/kigcUnmiL7
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) November 17, 2022
The Speaker has no interest in becoming the U.S. Ambassador to Italy. She intends to continue serving in Congress regardless of her decision about House Democratic leadership. She said that yesterday on the Sunday shows.
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) November 14, 2022
I don’t know who reads @PuckNews let alone pays for it, but I wanted to get ahead of @tarapalmeri‘s latest typo-ridden Pelosi scoop to let everyone know that it’s complete trash just like the last ones. That’s all.
— Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) November 14, 2022
