Capitol Hill Reporter Recounts Fall, Recalls Ghostly Legend

Chad Pergram, Fox News Channel's Chief Congressional Correspondent, recounted an incident where he fell while attempting to question then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the U.S. Capitol steps. The fall, which occurred on a sweltering July day, led Pergram to reflect on possible causes, from fatigue and footwear to the rush of pursuing a story.

Pergram was on assignment at the Capitol, a place he has covered for decades. He had spotted Trudeau descending a staircase after a meeting with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His intention was to ask Trudeau about the possibility of the Tampa Bay Rays splitting their season between Florida and Montreal, a move that would potentially bring Major League Baseball back to Quebec. Pergram noted the irony of asking a Canadian about baseball, referencing Trudeau's father, Pierre Trudeau, and the former Montreal Expos.

As he moved to approach Trudeau, Pergram fell, losing his balance and tumbling on the Capitol marble. With a microphone in one hand, he opted to go with the fall rather than risk injury trying to catch himself, drawing on his martial arts training to roll safely. Trudeau briefly stopped, and onlookers expressed concern, but Pergram's chance to ask about baseball was lost as Trudeau departed.

Following the incident, colleagues and others inquired about the cause of the fall, with some playfully suggesting a supernatural explanation. Pergram then delved into a historical anecdote about Rep. William Taulbee, a 19th-century Kentucky Democrat who allegedly had a violent confrontation with a reporter named Charles Kincaid. According to the account, Taulbee physically assaulted Kincaid, and months later, Kincaid shot Taulbee on the House's "Y" staircase. Taulbee died from his injuries 11 days later, and Pergram notes that Taulbee's "phantasm" is rumored to linger around the Capitol, sometimes causing reporters to trip.

Pergram concluded by humorously leaving the cause of his fall open to interpretation, acknowledging the legend of Taulbee while also considering more mundane explanations. He emphasized that, physically, he was unharmed by the tumble, though mentally it was a disorienting experience. The incident occurred near the Memorial Door of the Capitol, a location Pergram noted has a lip on its staircase.