House Stenographer Credits ‘Holy Spirit’ for Rant - East Idaho News
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House Stenographer Credits ‘Holy Spirit’ for Rant

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Getty 101713 Stenographer?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1382042223225iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The House stenographer who erupted into a verbal tirade against members of Congress in the midst of the vote to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling said the “holy spirit” told her to do it.

“For the past 2 and 1/2 weeks, the Holy Spirit has been waking me up in the middle of the night and preparing me (through my reluctance and doubt) to deliver a message in the House Chamber,” the stenographer, Dianne Reidy, said in a written statement to Fox News. “That is what I did last night.”

Reidy’s husband, Dan, told Fox that his wife “is a sweet, level-headed wonderful woman of God.”

“I am proud of her,” Dan Reidy told Fox.

The comments are the first clues about why Reidy shouted into a microphone during Wednesday night’s vote, an act that led to her forcible removal from the chamber of the House of Representatives.

The stenographer, who helps keep the record of the proceedings of the House, was interviewed by officers before being transported to a hospital “for evaluation,” U.S. Capitol Police told ABC News.

She was not arrested or charged and it’s unclear whether she will keep her job. Neither Reidy nor the Office of the Clerk has responded to ABC News’ request for comment.

As members cast their votes Wednesday evening on legislation to end the 16-day government shutdown, Reidy was seen calmly ascending the rostrum before unleashing her diatribe against members of Congress. Another stenographer stepped in for her.

Reidy was heard shouting “the House is divided,” according to one congressional source. After about 30 seconds, Reidy was pulled off the rostrum by two people from the House chamber security staff.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio 

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