Last week, we reported that Meghan Markle shocked some Republican senators by cold calling their private cellphones to lobby for paid parental leave. Now, it’s being reported that the talks have stalled amid complaints that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) giving Meghan Markle their personal phone numbers was a serious “breach of protocol.”
Backstory: Meghan Markle Uses Her Royal Title To Lobby Republican Senators By Cold Calling Them
The talks hit a speed bump after it leaked that Gillibrand had given Meghan Markle the private cellphone numbers of senators in the hope she could pressure them to act
Some members considered that a breach of protocol, leaving them skeptical about future negotiations https://t.co/7Eq4DASgYa
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) November 18, 2021
Lawmakers Not Happy With Dem. Senator Gillibrand
Gillibrand is currently trying to garner a private deal on paid family leave after moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (WV) shot down plans for it to be included in Joe Biden’s $1.75 trillion infrastructure bill.
However, these talks hit a “speed bump” after Senator Gillibrand gave her colleagues’ private, unlisted phone numbers to Meghan Markle, according to Axios.
Republican Senators Susan Collins (ME) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV) are two senators that Meghan is known to have cold called. It is unknown if she called others, with it also being unknown if Gillibrand gave her additional phone numbers.
Two aides familiar with the matter told Axios that some lawmakers see what Gillibrand did here as a clear breach of protocol. It’s leaving them wary of any further talks on the issue of paid parental leave.
Gillibrand, however, appears to be standing by her actions. She’s saying that this is only the beginning for Meghan because the duchess is eager to be part of “a working group to work on paid leave long term.”
The Democrat senator from New York also told The 19th that she is planning to invite Meghan Markle to a bipartisan dinner she is hosting next month with all the women in the Senate so that she can give the royal a platform to discuss this further.
Republican Calls For Meghan Markle To Be Stripped Of Her Royal Title
Rep. Jason Smith (R-MI) has been outspoken about condemning Meghan Markle for these cold calls. He’s even going so far as to say that she should be stripped of her Royal title for trying to interfere with politics in the U.S.
“Ms. Markle’s latest interference in U.S. politics reignites the question in my mind as to why the Royal Family does not simply strip her and Harry officially of their titles, particularly since she insists on sending this under the pretense of being the Duchess of Sussex,” Smith told Daily Mail.
The Royal Family has a longstanding tradition of staying out of politics in the United Kingdom.
Related: Meghan Markle Claims Lobbying For Parental Paid Leave Isn’t Political – It’s A ‘Humanitarian Issue’
Meghan Markle: ‘I’m Not A Politician’
This comes one month after the Duchess of Sussex sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to lobby for paid leave.
“I’m not an elected official, and I’m not a politician,” Meghan wrote. “I’m writing to you at this deeply important time – as a mom – to advocate for paid leave.”
The former “Suits” actress may claim to not be a politician, but she is certainly starting to sound like one.
The world will be watching to see how this lobbying campaign by Meghan Markle and her ally Senator Kirsten Gillibrand plays out.
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