Stenographer snaps, rants on House floor
Updated: 2:06 p.m. ET, 10/17/2013
Washington (CNN) – Amid all the chaos of the last-minute deal in Washington, there was an unusual moment on the House floor moments after the bill passed.
A House stenographer and well-known employee calmly took to a microphone and began screaming.
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"Do not be deceived. God shall not be mocked. A House divided cannot stand," she said, according to a House GOP aide. After a few seconds, she was escorted out by the Sergeant-at-Arms, but an audio recording by Todd Zwillich of Public Radio International captured the rest of her rant.
"He will not be mocked, He will not be mocked, (don't touch me) He will not be mocked. The greatest deception here, is that this is not one nation under God. It never was. Had it been... it would not have been... No. it would not have been... the Constitution would not have been written by Free Masons... and go against God. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve two masters. Praise be to God, Lord Jesus Christ."
House members and aides were surprised and unsettled by the scene.
"I don't know, she just snapped," said a GOP aide.
CNN's Dana Bash spoke with several staffers who knew the woman well.
"She’s a well-known person, she’s a perfectly nice person, a good colleague, somebody who’s respectable and dependable, and this is very surprising to everybody who works with her," Bash reported on air.
"The Sergeant in Arms didn’t try to stop her because she works there and that’s where she’s situated," Rep. Peter King, R-New York, told Jake Tapper. "And she actually went up behind the podium where the president speaks from. They thought she was going to hand something to the speaker, and then they realized."
Officer Shennell S. Antrobus of Capitol Police told CNN she wasn’t arrested or charged and was transported to a local area hospital by DC Fire for further evaluation.
In terms of an ongoing investigation or further action about the stenographer, Antrobus said no such action will be taken.
"There is nothing more, from our end, that we are going to do," Antrobus said.
–CNN’s Deirdre Walsh, Steve Brusk, Dan Merica and Conor Finnegan contributed to this report.
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"If you accept the Bible as 'truth,' you have issues similar to hers."
Yep.
Now that she's unemployed, maybe the guys from "Impractical Jokers" can give her a new career opportunity.
The woman is obviously mentally ill. The real shame here is that no one recognizes religious belief for what it is: a symptom of an underlying mental illness. Maybe doctors and psychologists will finally begin to include religion as one of the warning signs of a larger mental health problem.
I rather like the constitution that our founding fathers wrote. Seems that she would have rather the United States been founded as a religious theocracy? I believe that this nation and our grand experiment in governing as a constitutional republic was made great "despite" religion, not "because" of it.
Remember the senior Jetblue pilot that snapped just like this on a cross country flight?
Something tells me that if you do a little digging, you'll find they were both taking the same anti-depressant...
She said what "most of Americans" are thinking... Power, money and greed have long controlled our government and it is going to fall... Take a good look at the Roman Empire,, that’s us soon... As for the poster named adibese,, you need to do your homework... This country was founded by men who believed in God... Our constitution references the word of God and if you haven't been to D.C.,, it's ironic how the Ten Commandments are all over the place.. Yes,, those are God's laws that we use in our courts (or rather used to) but there still all over the walls and front of the Supreme Court house... This country was better off before it started taking God out it... And if you new history,, separation of church and state was to keep government out of our religion,, not the other way around.... That statement has been so twisted by those who will one day stand before the God they do not believe in, and they will be judged....
Here, have a snickers.
Poor person. Likely wast getting enough sleep.
It does not shock me that a person that believes in an imaginary magic sky daddy would say something delusional. Religion is a mental illness and should be treated as such.
Funny you can hear the gavel but you can'y hear her! Silence the people!
Who's this "God" I keep hearing people go on about? Someone cool?
@Rudy NYC, England was hardly a theocratic government. As a matter of fact, its the government ours is based on (Parliamentary). The difference was, the king was the head of the Church and could tell his citizens where they should worship. This is what the founding fathers wanted to guard against and ensure freedom to worship where and how you choose. They were not aiming for a secular society, but a balanced one where you are free to worship as you choose, and not at all if you so desire. People like you grossly misstate the facts to suit your own desires.
Maybe she's planning on primarying Louis Gohmert.
I read and re-read the above article and while her outburst may have been shocking- there was nothing incorrect in what she said- a house divided can't stand- nor can a family or a business. USA was founded under the doctrines of Christianity-to later include Freedom of all religion. Today, it is not functioning under any principles other than those that are divisive, selfish and egotistic and "navel gazing." So, where is she wrong in her outburst?
Soon all of you will see.. We are entering the time of sorrows as Jesus Christ told us. This woman is not wrong God will not be mocked. The heathen think they can hide their plans from God but God sees and hears all. Do not be deceived, blinded by satan's tricks. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life. NO ONE gets to the Father our Creator the Great I AM but through him!! Seek Jesus Christ today!! Repent. Love, Pray, Repent and Forgive #LPRF Seek Jesus Christ before you no longer can!! Pray!! Read the Gospels..
Her religious beliefs have turned her into a fruitcake. Beware, religion is not harmless.
and Antonin Scalia's head popped up... Amen sister! tell it to the mountain!!!
ok now sit down as your Gender makes unacceptable for any leader roles in this religion.
World War Z man!!
I would imagine her working with all those hypocrites and outright sinners in the House caused her to just lose it. I mean, a person can only take so much.
What is really scary to me is most are mocking God, and that whatever took place the woman is an American and not a crime, she was not amongst royalty, she is like all other Americans. Sick and tired of the games, the power play, pretense of looking out for their fellow Americans. This woman probably heard it all first hand, but yet we are judging her...she should speak when spoken too. I am outraged, they sent her to a hospital for evaluation. I think that would be a family matter.
She sounds like another bible thumper gone mad. I hope she gets psychiatric help and is not allowed back in. She is the perfect kind of person that will bring a machine gun in and kill everyone because she believes in sky fairies. She is mentally disturbed and I don't care how respected she was or how long she's worked there. She is disturbed.
Agreed Dan. Well said. She may have been stressed but to belive in a higher power not a mental issue. I will stand with truth.
@ Terry. Actually it does prohibit the preference of one religion over another by the U.S. Government. Can you say that is what you see? I can't say that.
Wow. That's almost as crazy as the House Republicans breaking out in a chorus of "Amazing Grace".
Religion is the only institution that not only tolerates, but encourages, insanity.
Jesus is a false idol. There is only one all-powerful all-loving God. And that God is God.