Pelosi to step down as Speaker after Republicans take House

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, has said that she will step down as party leader when the Republican Party takes control of the House in January.

"I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress," the 82-year-old Pelosi said on the House floor on Thursday, AFP reported. "The hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus."

Following the midterm elections on November 8, the Republican Party secured a majority in the House while Democrats retained control of the Senate. Republicans underperformed in races across the country otherwise they also could have won the Senate as well.

Pelosi, the first woman to hold the powerful House Speaker post, was first elected to Congress in 1987. She first became Speaker in 2007. She is second in the line of succession to President Joe Biden.

Pelosi presided over both impeachments of Donald Trump during her second term in the role.

Last week, Pelosi said that her decision on the future would be influenced by the recent attack on her elderly husband in the runup to the November 8 midterms.

Pelosi, 82, suffered blunt force trauma to his head and body, according to two people with knowledge of the investigation into the attack who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe.

An internet user with the same name as the suspect arrested at the scene, David Depape, voiced support for former President Donald Trump. Democrats have also claimed that the suspect is a supporter of Trump.

MG