Fox News Chief Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram has recounted an unusual incident where he fell on the steps of the U.S. Capitol while attempting to ask then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a question. The fall, which occurred in front of Trudeau and his aides, has prompted Pergram to explore not only the potential physical causes but also the Capitol's storied history of paranormal activity.
Pergram described the moment he lost his footing near a small staircase, attributing it to a combination of factors including fatigue, his footwear, and a hasty approach to get his question on record. "I spotted then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his small coterie of aides and a security detail descending a spiral staircase after a meeting with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi," Pergram wrote. "I would try to ask Trudeau a question."
Despite his efforts to maintain composure and even execute a trained martial arts fall to avoid injury, the moment was jarring. "I stepped toward Trudeau, mumbled something about Tampa Bay and bought it," he recalled. "I fell on those steps. Directly in front of the Canadian Prime Minister. On the hard Capitol marble."
While physically unharmed, Pergram noted the unusual nature of the event and the questions it raised among his colleagues. "They always ask if I felt something," he wrote. "'Across your foot? Your shin?' My shin? 'Yeah. Your ankle. Did you feel it?' Not really."
This experience led Pergram to delve into the lore of the U.S. Capitol, a building with a long history of alleged hauntings. He specifically referenced the story of Rep. William Taulbee, a Democrat from Kentucky in the late 19th century, who reportedly had a violent altercation with a reporter named Charles Kincaid. Taulbee was shot by Kincaid on a Capitol staircase and died from his injuries 11 days later. According to legend, Taulbee's "phantasm" is said to still linger in the Capitol, sometimes interacting with reporters.
"Sometimes low bridging reporters on ornate staircases," Pergram wrote, alluding to the Taulbee story. "'What tripped you?' they ask. And before I can answer, my inquisitors jump to a conclusion, albeit an interrogative one. 'Was it a ghost?' they giddily exclaim."
Pergram concluded by leaving the cause of his fall open to interpretation, stating, "As I say, I have my theories. I’ll let you come to your own conclusions."