An unusual moment on the House floor almost stole some of the thunder moments after a bill was passed to reopen the government on Wednesday.
A House stenographer calmly took to a microphone and went on a bizarre rant about the Constitution, religion and Freemasons.
"Do not be deceived. God shall not be mocked. A House divided cannot stand," she screamed, according to a House GOP aide, reports CBS 12 News.
"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," she continued.
The 48-year-old court scribe, identified as Dianne Foster Reidy, was eventually removed and taken to the hospital by Capitol Police. However, her explanation for delivering her strange speech is even more peculiar. She told Fox News that the Holy Spirit compelled her to do it.
"For the past 2 and ½ 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," said Reidy, according to the New York Post. "That is what I did last night."
Reidy, a married mother of two young daughters who earns $126,050 a year as a House stenographer, is a fan of several Christian-oriented groups, including the Evangelical ministry known as In Touch Ministries, led by TV preacher Charles Stanley, according to her Facebook profile.
Reidy grew up on Long Island, where she registered to vote in 1991 as a member of the Liberal Party, records show.
Her husband, a former director of the far-right Great Commission Ministries International whose name was not released, defended his wife's public outburst.
"My wife is a sweet, level-headed wonderful woman of God," he said.
"I am proud of her."
Watch the outburst below:
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
