Republicans fuming over Pelosi’s souvenir pens
WASHINGTON — As a historic debate over whether President Donald Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors worthy of removal from office moved to the Senate, another question began to consume politicians and pundits tracking the impeachment process:
Was House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wrong to send the charges off for a trial with souvenir pens?
Writing implements used to sign bills or executive orders are often handed out as keepsakes, and Pelosi followed a Washington tradition Wednesday when she used pen after pen to write tiny portions of her signature on articles of impeachment — then gifted them to members Congress.
But the moment also raised eyebrows and outraged Trump allies, with many saying the Democratic leader undermined her past efforts to frame impeachment as a solemn constitutional duty rather than a political victory. Last month, Pelosi swiftly tamped down cheers in the House Chamber as lawmakers voted to charge the president with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, accusing Trump of pressuring a foreign leader to damage his domestic rivals.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., blasted the commemorative pens Thursday as evidence of the bias he and other Trump supporters have long alleged in the impeachment process. He has been battling with Democrats over the terms of a trial in his Republican-dominated chamber.
“This final display neatly distilled the House’s entire process into one perfect visual,” McConnell said of the black pens emblazoned in gold with Pelosi’s signature, that “literally came in on silver platters.”
“It was a transparently partisan performance from beginning to end,” he said.
The pen controversy blew up as Republicans continued to deride the impeachment process, calling it Democrats’ attempt to undo the 2016 election. Trump himself has denied any improper behavior, often calling his call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that led to an explosive whistleblower complaint “perfect.”
U.S. leaders have used souvenir pens for important legislation for decades, sometimes stretching their signatures over dozens of writing implements so that a slew of supporters can keep a piece of history. Lyndon Johnson is said to have used more than 75 pens when he signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as Time reported in 2010 after President Barack Obama used more than 20 to approve landmark health care legislation.
Trump embraced the tradition not long before Pelosi’s signing Wednesday, handing pens out to assembled officials as he signed a trade deal with China.
But some drew a distinction between policy developments and a milestone in the impeachment process that Pelosi has said brings her no joy.
“We are used to seeing signing ceremonies handing out pens at moments of celebration,” said CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash. But she added that “the House Speaker has bent over backward to say publicly and privately this is a somber, this is not a time for celebration.”
“This is history, and the people who are involved want to mark the moment, but I didn’t expect to see that,” Bash said of the pen handout.
Bash’s fellow political correspondent Nia Malika-Henderson agreed, calling Pelosi’s distribution of pens “a little jarring.”
“I think it was a little off-message for someone who has tried set a very serious tone,” she echoed.
Republican lawmakers, White House officials and conservative commentators pounced on the moment’s optics.
“Nancy Pelosi’s souvenir pens served up on silver platters to sign the sham articles of impeachment … She was so somber as she gave them away to people like prizes,” tweeted White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.