After comments at a Baltimore library event last week, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could face legal trouble. During the public engagement, Pelosi endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential bid. However, Maryland Rep. Andy Harris quickly pointed out that the high-ranking California Democrat may have violated an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rule prohibiting nonprofits from engaging in political activities.
Speaking at the Central Enoch Pratt Free Library for what was supposed to be a book tour, Pelosi voiced her support for Harris. “I didn’t know we could talk politics,” Pelosi told the audience at the library. “I think we’re talking civics here right now, right?” she said, according to reports from The Baltimore Sun. Pelosi’s remarks seemed to address the IRS rule preventing nonprofit organizations like the Pratt Library from participating in political events, such as campaigns.
Republicans quickly called out that it seemed as if Pelosi was hosting a campaign event at the library. “Why is Nancy Pelosi campaigning for presidential candidates at a nonprofit organization such as the Pratt Free Library in Baltimore?” Rep. Harris posted on X. “There is supposed to be an IRS regulation that prohibits nonprofit organizations from engaging in elections. What is the Pratt Library’s tax exempt status?”
The Republican representative further wrote in a letter to Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) that it appeared Pelosi’s “book tour” actually turned out to be a “campaign rally” for Kamala Harris. “Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited the Pratt library for what was described as a book tour, but what ended up being a campaign rally for Vice President Kamala Harris,” he said.
“Kamala Harris should be elected president of the United States because she is the best person for the job,” Pelosi said in her speech. She continued, “People vote in their self-interest. And we want to make sure they see their self-interest clearly in the distinction between the two parties. We have to make that case to the American people. It hasn’t been made strongly enough. They don’t fully appreciate it, and we take responsibility for their lack of appreciation. But we want to drive the message home.”
The American Tribune recently reported on other controversy surrounding Nancy Pelosi that she had responsibility in allegedly forcing Biden to drop out of the 2024 race. However, Pelosi denied these claims, stating, “He was in a good place to make whatever decision – the top of his game. Such a consequential president of the United States, a Mount Rushmore kind of president of the United States.”
During the CBS interview, Pelosi maintained that she was not involved in any initiatives to force Biden out of the race. “No, I wasn’t the leader of any pressure [campaign],” Pelosi doubled down. “Let me say things that I didn’t do: I didn’t call one person. I did not call one person. I could always say to him, ‘I never called anybody,’” she added.
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Pelosi previously said about Biden’s status in the 2024 race, “It’s up to the president to decide if he is going to run. We’re all encouraging him to make that decision because time is running short. The, I think, overwhelming support of the caucus, it’s not for me to say. I’m not the head of the caucus anymore, but he’s beloved, he is respected, and people want him to make that decision. Not me.”
Watch Pelosi below: