SCOOP: Another Democrat Falls Asleep on the Job… During Hakeem Jeffries’ Speech
President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), and Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) scored a huge win, setting up an imminent vote on the One Big, Beautiful Bill.
As the top priority for Republicans in D.C. made its way through Congress, the GOP trio pulled multiple rabbits out of an ever-shrinking hat to get the bill to the White House before this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Democrats’ House leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.) put at least one member of his own conference to sleep during his “magic minute” speech.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Ohio) was spotted fully asleep during Jeffries’s meandering remarks.
Since Kaptur was seated directly behind Jeffries, it made for horrible optics. Jeffries knew that, and after Kaptur fell asleep, the aging lawmaker was yanked from the House floor.
Republicans took note of Kaptur’s speech snooze, dubbing the congresswoman “Marcy Nap-tur.” Rep Mark Alford (R., Mo.) compared her antics to those of someone taking his “sweet time” leaving a parking space.
“The ‘sweet time’ effect reminds me of the guy in the parking lot who knows you’re wanting to park in the space he’s leaving but takes his ‘sweet time,’ slowly walking to his car….Opening the door…putting the key in the ignition…turning the key…putting the car in reverse… backing out…and pulling away…in his…own…sweet…time,” the Missourian explained with great emphasis.
Kaptur, a longtime lawmaker, is a top target for House Republicans once again this cycle. Jack Pandol, the deputy executive director of the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC), said that Kaptur has been “warming that seat for four decades.”
And, according to Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R., Wis.), it was “not just her” when it comes to sleepy Democrats.
Though embarrassing for her, Jeffries, and the Democrats writ large, Kaptur’s congressional cat nap is not surprising.
The Washington Reporter previously covered how several other Democrats like Reps. Debbie Dingell (D., Mich.) and Jan Schakowsky (D., Ill.) were caught sleeping during official House business.