Capitol Hill Buzz: Pelosi teases Reid with dark glasses

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Reid talked about the impasse over passing the Homeland Security budget because of Republican efforts to block President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. Reid is wearing special glasses as he recovers from injuries suffered in a violent exercise accident in December. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. Reid talked about the impasse over passing the Homeland Security budget because of Republican efforts to block President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. Reid is wearing special glasses as he recovers from injuries suffered in a violent exercise accident in December. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

By Associated Press February 26, 2015 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Comedy on Capitol Hill – the intentional kind, anyway – is pretty rare.

But House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi got chuckles Thursday when she started a news conference by donning dark glasses, a teasingly sympathetic gesture to the man standing next to her, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid.

“I brought my glasses to be like Harry, but he switched on me,” Pelosi said, removing her shades.

In recent days, Reid indeed has worn dark glasses in the Capitol, partly hiding the serious injury to his right eye suffered while exercising at his Nevada home on New Year’s Day.

Reid said an elastic exercise band snapped, causing him to fall and break bones in his face. He had two surgeries in January, including one to replace his cornea. He belatedly joined the new Congress, wearing a large bandage over his right eye and cheek.