Pelosi Spokesperson Statement on Minority Leader's Letter to Legislative Branch Officials

Washington, D.C. – Drew Hammill, spokesman for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, issued this statement on Minority Leader McCarthy's letter regarding the reopening of the United States Capitol Complex:

"The Minority Leader's incoherent letter is nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract from the unmitigated disaster that was his party's performance in the midterm election – one that only looks worse as ballots continue to get counted," Hammill said. "Now, after bungling the election, the Minority Leader would rather intimidate the professionals who run the House than get to work on the issues that voters just told us are on their minds."

Hammill continued: "Under Speaker Pelosi's thoughtful and deliberate leadership, the Capitol Complex has long been on a path to normal: with common-sense, science-based steps to reopen while keeping everyone in our community safe. A phased reopening has been necessary to limit the spread of a plague that has killed more than a million Americans, including two of the Minority Leader's own Members – and after a deadly insurrection provoked by his personal hero and broadly supported by his conference. In sharp contrast, Leader McCarthy whipped his colleagues to vote against our House bill securing additional funding for Capitol Police, which has been crucial to the effort to reopen."

Hammill concluded: "And in case he's already forgotten, the Minority Leader is still the Minority Leader – and he shouldn't count his chickens before they hatch."