Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Pushes for House Vote on Speaker Johnson's Removal

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
01/05/2024 21h42

In a bold move, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced her intention to call for a vote to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson. Accompanied by fellow right-wing Representative Thomas Massie, Greene expressed her determination to give her fellow representatives a choice between "MAGA" or "MUGA" as her effort moves forward.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the Georgia firebrand reiterated her belief that every member of Congress should take a stand and vote on Speaker Johnson's removal, letting the chips fall where they may. Greene stated that she would trigger the vote after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar declared their intentions to vote on a motion to table Greene's motion.

Both Greene and Massie criticized Johnson's reliance on Democrats to pass crucial legislation, including spending bills, surveillance reauthorization, and aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. They labeled the cooperation between Johnson and Jeffries as an embodiment of the "uniparty."

During the press conference, Greene held up a hat bearing the acronym "MUGA," standing for "Make Ukraine Great Again." She accused the "uniparty" of advocating for funding foreign wars and claimed it to be an unsustainable business model.

In response, Speaker Johnson criticized Greene's motion, deeming it wrong for the Republican Conference, the institution, and the country as a whole. He argued against ousting him, citing concerns that the legislation would fail or potentially lead to Jeffries assuming the role of speaker.

Several Republican House members, including those who previously voted to remove former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, expressed hesitation about removing Johnson. They cited concerns about the potential failure of the motion or the unintended consequence of Jeffries becoming the new speaker.

Greene remained undeterred, declaring her intention to move forward with the vote despite former President Donald Trump's defense of Johnson. She emphasized that she is a staunch supporter of Trump's agenda, proudly wearing her "MAGA" hat, and fighting against her own Republican conference for what she believes aligns with the former president's vision.

Greene specifically highlighted Johnson's approval of a spending bill that fully funded the Department of Justice and allocated funds for a new FBI office building in Maryland. She raised concerns about the agency's actions regarding a search warrant executed at Mar-a-Lago and ongoing investigations into Trump.

Even if the motion to vacate is ultimately blocked, Greene asserted that it would still be a win for the American people since it would provide a list of recorded votes, emphasizing the importance of accountability in their roles as representatives.

As the controversy unfolds, the House is poised for a significant vote within the next week, determining whether Speaker Johnson will retain his position or face removal. The outcome of this divisive battle remains uncertain, but one thing is clear - the internal tensions within the Republican Party continue to rise.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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