Fact check: None of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's children works for John F. Kennedy Center

Devon Link, USA TODAY
·4 min read
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The claim: Speaker Nancy Pelosi's daughter works for the Kennedy Center

Social media users are resurrecting an early pandemic falsehood about potential conflicts of interest after Congress voted to grant the Kennedy Center its annual funding in a recent bill.

“Ok now I get it Pelosis daughter works for Kennedy Center,” claims a Dec. 23 Facebook Post.

The John F. Kennedy Center is a federally funded performing arts center in Washington, D.C., not far from the White House, National Mall and U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), stands beside his sister, Jean Smith, at a topping out ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Sept. 30, 1968. The center was topped out with a steel replica of the classical Greek masks of comedy (Thalia) upper right, and tragedy (Melpomene). The masks, weighting 900 pounds, were attached to the top of the steel girder of the center's theater.

The Facebook user who posted the claim has yet to respond to USA TODAY's request for comment.

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Pelosi's office and Kennedy Center confirm claim is false

Pelosi’s deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, told PolitiFact in April 2020 that none of Pelosi’s children worked for the Kennedy Center. Hammill confirmed with USA TODAY on Jan. 5 that this is still the case.

In a March 2020 email to Check Your Fact, Kennedy Center spokesperson Michelle Pendoley wrote that none of Pelosi’s children works for the arts center.

Kennedy Center or John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts by the Potomac river in Washington DC
Kennedy Center or John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts by the Potomac river in Washington DC

Claim was debunked in early 2020

Several fact checkers debunked this claim between March and April after a measure in the $2.2 trillion CARES Act granted the Kennedy Center $25 million. Some online critics argued against the provision and spread the falsehood.

Check Your Fact, PolitiFact and Reuters concluded that accusations that one of Pelosi's daughters worked there were false since none of Pelosi’s four daughters were listed on the Kennedy Center's board of trustees.

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As of Jan. 6, none of Pelosi’s daughters were listed on the center's board of trustees or Executive Leadership & Artistic Partners webpages.

Pelosi has four daughters — Nancy Corinne Prowda, Alexandra Pelosi, Christine Pelosi and Jacqueline Pelosi — and one son — Paul Pelosi.

A new stimulus package, which passed in December, included $40 million in funding for the Kennedy Center.

Kennedy Center Vice President, Public Relations, Eileen Andrews responded to confusion about the funding in a Dec. 23 press release. She wrote that the funds were part of the center's annual appropriations, separate from the COVID relief package.

"These funds are exactly what the President requested for the Center in his fiscal year 2021 budget submission provided to Congress this past February," it read.

Nancy Pelosi arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 22nd Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor presented to Dave Chappelle on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Washington. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) ORG XMIT: DCOS106
Nancy Pelosi arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 22nd Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor presented to Dave Chappelle on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in Washington. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP) ORG XMIT: DCOS106

After the CARES Act was passed, USA TODAY debunked similar false claims that the Kennedy Center had donated some of those funds to the Democratic Party.

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Politicians serve on board of trustees

Many high-profile politicians are listed on the board of trustees, including Speaker Pelosi herself.

Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell are listed as Members Ex Officio Designated by Act of Congress. The last five first ladies serve as honorary chairs.

WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 6: Former first lady Laura Bush (C), U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) and journalist Cokie Roberts participate in a Spousal Symposium at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on August 6, 2014 in Washington, DC. The symposium, sponsored by first lady Michelle Obama and former first lady Laura Bush, focuses on the role the spouses of world leader's play and the impact of investments in education, health, and economic development through public-private partnerships. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

Several Trump administration officials are also listed as Members Ex Officio, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.

Our ruling: False

We rate the claim that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi' daughter works for the John F. Kennedy Center FALSE because it is not supported by our research. Pelosi's office, the Kennedy Center and its website all confirm none of Pelosi's four daughters work for the performing arts center.

Our fact-check sources:

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: None of Nancy Pelosi's children works for Kennedy Center