The newly elected Republican congressman who claimed that Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, shoved her daughter during a swearing-in ceremony has since acknowledged that the kid was unperturbed at the time.
Rep. Mayra Flores of Texas, who was sworn in by Pelosi last Tuesday, accused the influential Democrat of elbowing her daughter on Twitter on Sunday after a video of the event went viral.
On Monday, Flores said she had a conversation with her daughter about the incident but that the youngster “was so focused on the occasion that she honestly didn’t realize what had just transpired” during the ceremony.
In an interview with Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, she continued, “I’m really proud of her, she is a queen. She kept on smiling and didn’t let anything mar such a great occasion.”
Flores claimed that she was unaware of the alleged shove until after the event when she watched a video that appeared to show Pelosi elbowing the young girl.
“I saw it afterwards, and sure, it revolted and disappointed me greatly.” The newly elected congressman declared that no youngster should be excluded from a photo opportunity.
After winning a long-held Democratic seat in an open special election earlier this month, Flores made history by becoming the first congresswoman of Mexican descent to be elected to the House.
The girl Pelosi is accused of pushing appears to be her second-youngest child. She is the mother of four children but hasn’t revealed their names or ages.
Pelosi can be seen extending her right elbow in the incident footage as the girl next to her leans to the side as if being poked.
According to Pelosi’s supporters, the girl can be seen swaying on her feet while the San Francisco Democrat moves her arm in front of her rather than elbowing the child.
Drew Hamill, a spokesman for Pelosi, refuted Flores’ claim and stated that the Speaker was actually working to keep the child in the running.
In spite of Flores herself making the assertion on Twitter, he also charged “news outlets” with distorting the narrative.
“News outlets” that ought to know better distort the Speaker’s effort to ensure that Rep. Flores’ girls wouldn’t be concealed behind her in all of the photographs of such a significant occasion for their family,” he said.
Having four children and married to a Border Patrol agent, Flores, 36, had tweeted at Pelosi, saying: “No child should be shoved to the side for a photo op.” PERIOD!!
“I am so proud of my brave, lovely kid for not being intimidated by this.”
She persisted in grinning and posed like a queen for the photograph.
Pelosi can be seen beckoning and gesturing over the family pastor in a video posted on social media.
The daughter then starts to walk away as she looks down at the little girl and appears to move her elbow in her direction.
Flores didn’t seem to notice it at the time, but when the video was widely circulated, she made a statement.
James Woods, a former actor who is now a Republican commentator, posted the video and wrote, “I adore this princess stood her ground, while Nancy showed her true colors.”
Rep. Filemon Vela, a Texas Democrat, retired before the end of his term, and Flores was elected in a special election this month to take his place.
It’s a wonderful joy to welcome Congresswoman Flores to the Capitol and to the United States Congress with great greetings, Pelosi stated during the ceremony.
We are once more appreciative of her leadership and the presence of her lovely family.
Thank you for having the guts to run for office, Congresswoman Flores, and best of luck to you. It’s a pleasure working with you.
Before the district is redrew to benefit Democrats, Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant laborers and a respiratory care specialist, will retain the seat for a while.
Her victory in the mainly Hispanic Rio Grand Valley, however, is concerning for Democrats and shows that Republicans are gaining support from this demographic.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, claimed that in order to support Flores, he had cast his first Republican ballot.
‘I voted for Mayra Flores – first time I’ve ever voted Republican,’ he tweeted. a significant red wave in 2022.
In her acceptance speech, Flores praised former President Donald Trump.
We need to be clear that we didn’t have this catastrophe in our country under President Trump, she remarked. And I hope the Hispanic community takes action. I am the first Mexican-American to ever be elected to Congress, and I want fair representation on both sides of the aisle,’ she added to applause.
With her victory, Flores not only becomes the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to hold office in the US House, but also an American of Mexican descent.
In a district where 85% of the population is Latino, Flores had 51% of the vote to Sanchez’s 43% when the Democrat conceded the contest.
Her triumph has repercussions for Democrats’ goals in Congress as well because it prevents Pelosi from increasing her slender two-vote majority needed to enact legislation.
Flores, who has echoed Trump’s assertions of a rigged election, moved to the United States from Burgos Tamaulipas, Mexico, when she was six years old. Her parents were farmworkers in Texas.
To help pay for school uniforms and materials throughout her formative years, Flores assisted her parents in the Memphis cotton fields.
She earned her degree in respiratory care in 2014, and she now works as a caregiver for the elderly and disabled who have chronic respiratory conditions. She has already aided individuals who are in need. COVID-19.
Later, Flores earned a degree in organizational leadership, and today he chairs the Hidalgo County GOP’s Hispanic Outreach Committee.
With her husband, a Border Patrol agent, Flores, who identifies as “Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and Pro-Law Enforcement,” has four children and advocates for strong immigration laws.
Her website states that Flores favors strengthening the legal immigration system, safeguarding the borders, cutting taxes, supporting small businesses, and reducing government.
In November, Flores will compete in another election against Vicente Gonzalez, the Democrat nominee.