When I stumbled and fell in front of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the U.S. Capitol, it was a moment I’d rather forget. People often ask if I felt something across my foot or shin. The answer is no, but the incident sparked many questions.
I was tired that day. Perhaps the small staircase near the Memorial Door of the U.S. Capitol was to blame. My brown loafers, with rubber soles, might have caught the edge. It was summer, and I felt appropriately dressed in a tan suit as I rushed to cover Congress.
The fall wasn’t about Trudeau, though spotting him prompted me to attempt a question about baseball. Trudeau once watched Montreal Expos games as a teenager, and with rumors of the Tampa Bay Rays considering a season split between Florida and Montreal, his comments would have been newsworthy.
Unfortunately, sometimes journalists don’t get to ask their questions. This was one of those times. As I moved to question Trudeau, I tripped and fell on the steps. Training in martial arts taught me how to fall without injury, so I went with it, rolling onto my right shoulder.
Physically, I was fine. Mentally, I was puzzled. I suspect a ghost may have been responsible. The Capitol is known for its ghost stories. In the 19th century, a disagreement between Rep. William Taulbee and reporter Charles Kincaid ended in violence. Taulbee was shot and fatally wounded, leaving bloodstains that remain visible.
People often wonder if it was Taulbee’s ghost that tripped me. I have my theories, but I leave it to others to draw their conclusions.
Chad Pergram is the Chief Congressional Correspondent for FOX News Channel, covering news from Washington, D.C.
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