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.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker']
"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.
From CNN Politics
- Why the mass shooting cycle remains predictable and permanent
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Untitled
- Illinois took action after the Highland Park shooting. But the assault weapon ban there still faces legal hurdles
- Mike Pence must testify about conversations he had with Donald Trump leading up to January 6, judge rules
- Untitled
Michelle Bachman is a stenographer?
Looks like the Tea Party just found their next candidate for a congressional seat.
Was she offered a position as a Republican Congresswoman? She'll fit right in.
Her job as a stenographer listening to and typing every word every day finally took it's toll ... She just got sick of all the crap she sees there and finally spoke out ... Or ... She's a nut bag !!! ...
She reminds me of the D.C. "Navy yard shooting" ER doctor....Janis Orlowski....Mrs. Raving Lunatic.
Another example of Pentecostal Religion gone extreme, because of the Extremists in the GOP.
The people who need serious medical help are the Senate and Congress members. They are sick!!!!
I'm not a believer in church but I'm a believer in God and I agree that she just couldn't take anymore of the selfish, selfcentered agendas being fought by most members of Congress (Left and right winged). I sit at home thinking our elected officials, Including Mr. B.O., don't have any concerns about the way their agendas hurt the American people b\c they are all set for life and don't need to subscribe to the legislation they are pushing on us. I'm sure she will be fine after a few days off.
Yup another crazy woman on the rampage...just like Dr. Janis Orlowski. The sky is falling !! The sky is falling !!!
@Rick "For the guy that said the country and the Bill of Rights wasn`t based on the bible I sugest he take a remedial American history class and also read , Isaiah, 33:22 !"
Even a casual browsing of history shows the founders were Christians of many types, Masons, deists, theists, philosophers, etc. The notion that this country was founded as your type of Christian only is an obvious myth. It is a country that is supposed to have FREEDOM of religion not Christian state religion.
"she was transported to a local hospital for evaluation"
That's were all tea party people need to go.
Why is anyone surprised? Imagine sitting in that room and having to type the absurdities, over and over and over, again. The stress took a toll upon her. Maybe Congress should take a good long look at this woman; millions of us American's have had to endure their nonsense, non-stop for over two weeks.
I do hope this woman is receiving the help she needs. A rest and reprieve from the nonsense and the ability to resume her career without being ostracized, I hope will be afforded her. But wait, I'm hoping for too much. Sadly, she will be written off as a nut case and excused from public life.
Look around, Congress, if you think this has been hard on you then it is time that you realize how it felt to the rest of America.
Another religious nut. She needs treatment for her mental illness.
One can tell this is a predominately liberal news site by all the hate towards Christianity. Liberals typically do not believe in anything other than themselves much less a higher power. Perhaps if she started spouting from the Koran there would be more religious 'tolerance...
What she spoke is the truth it's written and clear your heads not all believers are republicans.....
Religious fundamentalists have no business in our government.
Maybe she'll get a lot of money donated to her from the right wing nuts. haha
another religious nut. Religion seems to drive people insane and somehow they end up in politics. What happened to the separation of Church and State. Religion belongs in the home and church.
Religion seems to drive people insane and somehow they end up in politics. What happened to the separation of Church and State. Religion belongs in the home and church.
Folks, are you not fed up with things? Religious or not, you have to question the efficacy and good of our system. We, The people need to be the system vs the apathetic life support of it. Thoughts?
I guess Cruz's rant made her bat guano crazy! In her defense, all the tea baggers – especially Bachman – do it practically every day in the chambers. Time to commit the entire teabagger clan.
In my opinion, she spoke prophetically, and was quoting from the Bible's book of Mark 3:25.
The Republican Congress is the achilles wing of the party, the senate is the achylles back, and we all need strong backs, Ted Cruz is the heel; together they'll all bring that party down.
I think , what this Woman to happen is to end the bickering between these two political party and reach with a common goal for the good of America and the American people . It is okay to disagree..... but it is in disagreeing that we come to agree !!!
I'm sure she is feeling very distress !!! But it doesn't put her in a criteria of beeing insane !!! C'mon ..........
What was she ranting about exactly. What we just all went through has nothing to do with going against GOD.
There are some strange responses to this matter. Many of the responses have centered around her alleged Republican party affiliation and a lot of imply Tea Party membership. Most of my Masonic Lodge brethren would probably consider themselves Republican and might even be Tea Party members. (We do not, by the way, discuss politics in Lodge. It's Divisive) I don't think any of them would claim her as one of their own.