Pelosi Coming to Beverly to Appear with Tierney

Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, will appear Friday in Beverly alongside U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Salem.

Pelosi, the first female Speaker of the House who is now the House Democratic Party leader, will take part in a discussion titled “When Women Succeed, America Succeeds” at the Cummings Center.

The event is designed to address women’s economic issues and is being cohosted by North Shore Community College, which has a campus at the Cummings Center.

Pelosi and Tierney said in a joint announcement that they will “talk about how these initiatives can bolster American families by providing financial security and strengthening gender equality in the workplace” as part of the “Economic Agenda for Women and Families.” The “agenda” is described as “policies that address real economic needs facing women and families ensuring equal pay for equal work, promoting work and family balance, and providing access to quality, affordable child care.”

The event starts at 11 a.m. in the community conference room at 100 Cummings Center. The event is not open to the public.

The event shows “the pairing is a sign that the national party again is concerned the troubled congressman is vulnerable,” the Boston Herald reported on Thursday, citing “prominent Democrats” as sources.

The two Democrats have long been allies and Pelosi’s daughter, Christine, worked as Tierney’s chief of staff for four years.

Tierney has represented the Sixth Congressional District, which includes Beverly and much of the North Shore, since 1997. Pelosi represents the San Francisco area of California.

In addition to Tierney and Pelosi, Ana Perdomo of Lynn will “share her personal story about how affordable childcare can provide families the stability they need to succeed” at the event, according to an announcement about the event. Additionally, National President of the American Association of University Women Patricia Fae Ho, will “talk about the need for advocacy efforts at all levels to ensure all women and families have the opportunity to pursue economic success.”

Janice Forsstrom, the interim president at North Shore Community College, is also scheduled to take part in the event along with “women leaders across the North Shore.”

The National Republican Congressional Committee, upon hearing about Pelosi’s trip to the North Shore, issued a press release on Thursday suggesting “5 Questions Nancy Pelosi Should Ask Blackjack John Tierney – But Won’t.”

Among those questions: “During her criminal trial, your wife invoked ‘spousal privilege’ so that she wouldn’t have to testify about what you knew about her and her brother’s criminal activity. If you knew nothing about the illegal activity, why would your wife refuse to testify about what you knew and how you knew it?”

The national committee continues to press Tierney about what he knew about his brother-in-law’s illegal gambling business in Antigua and money that was sent to Tierney’s wife, who did not pay taxes on that money. She served 30 days in federal prison in 2011.

“The fact that Nancy Pelosi would even appear at the same event as the ethically tainted John Tierney shows how little integrity National Democrats have,” said Ian Prior, the Northeast Regional Press Secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee in a statement.