Pelosi Fumbles CNN Interview, Defends Scandal-Plagued Virginia Democrat [WATCH]

Rep. Nancy Pelosi appeared on CNN Wednesday for an interview with anchor Dana Bash, where the former House Speaker faced pushback on several claims regarding the government funding debate and her defense of embattled Virginia Democrat Jay Jones.

Pelosi, who carries the honorary title of “Speaker Emerita,” discussed the continuing resolution (CR) under consideration in Congress to end the partial government shutdown.

During the interview, she asserted that the House-passed CR contained partisan measures inserted by Republicans.

However, legislative records and multiple public statements from both parties show the proposal to be what is typically described as “clean,” containing no additional provisions or partisan riders.

The current CR has passed the House and been voted on six times in the Senate.

It maintains basic government operations without policy conditions, though it does not extend certain pandemic-era programs such as expanded Obamacare subsidies.

Pelosi maintained that the bill’s structure favored Republicans, a claim Bash questioned during the exchange.

CNN: Republicans are voting YES to open the government. Democrats are voting NO. So how are they shutting down the government?

PELOSI: It’s not a clean CR!

BASH: What’s not clean?

PELOSI: “The point is…uh uh uh” pic.twitter.com/E2M6oxRttL

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) October 8, 2025

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According to the Congressional Record, Democrats in the Senate blocked the measure in multiple procedural votes, resulting in a brief lapse in federal operations.

House Republicans have continued to back the same short-term funding bill as a means to reopen government agencies.

Later in the interview, Pelosi was asked about Jay Jones, the Democratic nominee for attorney general in Virginia.

Jones has faced controversy over social media comments and questions surrounding his sentencing for a reckless driving charge that was later tied to a community service arrangement benefiting his own campaign.

Despite these issues, Pelosi defended him, saying he remains “better on balance” than current Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican.

Pelosi did not address multiple reports detailing Jones’s past online statements, including ones interpreted as wishing harm on political opponents and law enforcement officers.

CNN: “The Democrat candidate for Attorney General in Virginia said a Republican deserved two bullets in his head… Should he get out of the race?”

Pelosi: “What I understand is they say, on balance, he is a better person to be Attorney General.”pic.twitter.com/WOgV0EXk0v

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 8, 2025

The exchange drew attention online after Pelosi’s comments appeared to contrast sharply with her previous criticism of Republican figures for inflammatory rhetoric.

Bash did not directly challenge Pelosi’s comparison between Jones and Miyares, moving instead to another topic.

In the closing minutes of the interview, Pelosi returned to the subject of President Donald Trump, criticizing his recent statements about local officials who violate federal law.

She called his rhetoric “deranged” and “dangerous,” suggesting it encouraged division.

Pelosi: Saying that the governor and the mayor should be imprisoned? Come on, be presidential. Mr. President, honor the office you serve in. Don’t be so deranged

pic.twitter.com/Ln5IAoqVtj

— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) October 8, 2025

When pressed about specific examples of alleged falsehoods by Trump during his State of the Union address, Pelosi did not identify particular statements.

Pelosi: Nobody has lied more to congress than Donald Trump. And that’s why I tore up his speech, because it was a manifesto of lies. So it’s so cute, almost, that he’s accusing somebody of lying to congress.

Bash: Obviously, he wasn’t under oath.

Pelosi: Doesn’t matter. He’s… pic.twitter.com/I2mWactXxm

— Acyn (@Acyn) October 8, 2025

The CNN segment marked one of Pelosi’s few extended interviews since stepping down from Democratic leadership after the 2022 midterms.

Her comments on both the government shutdown and the Virginia attorney general race immediately prompted reactions from lawmakers in both parties, with Republicans pointing to her remarks as an example of selective outrage over political rhetoric.