Hakeem Jeffries, leader of the House minority, has appointed Asha Armstrong as his cloakroom assistant. Armstrong, a young Indian American, shared the news on LinkedIn, expressing her excitement about her new role within the Office of the Democratic Leader. She also expressed gratitude for her time in Ranking Member Nadler’s office and her eagerness to take this next step in her career.
Cloakrooms, located away from the House and Senate chambers, offer members a space for discussions, relaxation, legislative strategy talks, and preparation for floor proceedings, as per the House Democratic Cloakroom website. Each party has its own cloakroom.
Cloakroom attendants have diverse responsibilities, including alerting lawmakers about upcoming votes, providing information about chamber operations during inclement weather, and coordinating with pages to convey messages, as highlighted by CNN.
Asha Armstrong’s professional journey in Washington began as an intern in the office of California Democrat Rep. Ami Bera. Before joining Rep. Nadler’s team, she interned for Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.). Her previous internships included roles with the Democratic Party, the state Senate, and the legal department of Molina Healthcare in California.
Armstrong holds a degree in Political Science and Government from American University, earned in 2021, along with a minor in Communications.
