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Johnson Vows to Protect Jack Smith Hours After Democrats Save His Speakership

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wasted little time after 163 Democrats voted to save his speakership to announce he would not use Congress's constitutional power of the purse to stop special counsel Jack Smith's "lawfare" against Donald Trump.

The post Johnson Vows to Protect Jack Smith Hours After Democrats Save His Speakership appeared first on Breitbart.

House of Drama: Speaker Johnson Survives Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Ouster Attempt

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can breathe a little easier now that more than 80% of his House colleagues put an end to the latest drama gripping Capitol Hill.

Six months after ascending to the speakership, a bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly voted to table a motion to vacate the chair—the House’s terminology for removing its leader. The final vote was 359-43; seven voted present and 21 others didn’t cast a vote. (See how your representative voted.)

“Hopefully, this is the end of the personality politics and the frivolous character assassination that has defined the 118th Congress,” Johnson said after Wednesday’s vote. “It’s regrettable. It’s not who we are as Americans and we’re better than this. We need to get beyond it.”

Don’t count on it.

Johnson may have survived the vote, but the anger toward him among some Republicans likely won’t subside anytime soon.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who offered the motion to vacate, bemoaned the “uniparty” that saved the speaker.

Tonight, you saw the Uniparty in action.

Nancy Pelosi, Hakeem Jeffries, and the rest of the Democrats saved Mike Johnson. pic.twitter.com/67ZOn76yDN

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) May 8, 2024

Petty squabbles and personal recriminations are nothing new for the House of Representatives. History offers many lessons. But today’s divisions—among the majority party, nonetheless—seem irreparable.

The GOP’s narrow House majority after the November 2022 election emboldened rank-and-file conservatives to demand much-needed changes. After multiple rounds of voting in January 2023, then-Rep. Kevin McCarthy acquiesced to their requests and secured the votes needed to be speaker.

>>> 20 Lawmakers Stood Up to the Washington Establishment. This is Their Story.

With any member of the narrowly divided House able to initiate the process of removing the speaker, it was perhaps inventible that Johnson would eventually face the same scenario as McCarthy. And when Johnson opted to rely on Democrats to pass bills, that’s precisely what happened.

To avoid a showdown, Johnson reportedly spent hours meeting with Greene this week, only to have her deliver a fiery floor speech that was met by a chorus of boos and jeers. When she wasn’t being interrupted, Greene accused the speaker of selling out his party and turning over House control to Democrats.

? I just called up my Motion to Vacate Nancy Pelosi-endorsed Uniparty Speaker Mike Johnson.

WATCH: pic.twitter.com/LaTu76QSLR

— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) May 8, 2024

Sitting by her side, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., repeatedly came to Greene’s aid.

Their grievances against Johnson include his decision to pass government spending bills with Democrat support, expel embattled New York Republican George Santos from the House, and advance a $95 billion foreign aid bill over the objections of conservatives.

Greene even managed to work in a defense of ousted Speaker McCarthy, whom both she and Massie considered an ally. Hours later, Massie doubled down on their defense of McCarthy by contrasting him as a favorable option to Johnson.

Vacating Kevin McCarthy was a huge mistake. Every Democrat voted to vacate him because he fought them tooth and nail.

Keeping Mike Johnson is an even bigger mistake. An overwhelming majority of democrats voted to keep him because he’s given them everything they want.

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 8, 2024

Sorry, Mr. Speaker, personality politics reign supreme.

In reality, Johnson will never know just how many Republicans want to see him gone beyond Greene, Massie, and Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. That’s because before Greene’s motion to vacate came to vote, the House opted to table it.

Of the 11 Republicans against motion to table, only a few explained their vote. But it’s safe to say not all were aligned with Greene, despite what Massie suggested.

It’s a new paradigm in Congress.

Nancy Pelosi, and most republicans voted to keep Uniparty Speaker Mike Johnson. These are the eleven, including myself, who voted NOT to save him. pic.twitter.com/8HnfDQ7lBe

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) May 8, 2024

At least three said not to interpret their opposition as an indication of their feelings toward Johnson.

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, opposed Greene’s motion to vacate even though he joined her on the procedural vote. “One should not be viewed as a proxy for the other,” he said.

New Speaker, same vote.
To be clear, the motion to table and the motion to vacate are separate questions. One should not be viewed as a proxy for the other.

As I did when Speaker McCarthy was ultimately vacated, I opposed the passive-aggressive motion to table which neuters…

— Warren Davidson ?? (@WarrenDavidson) May 8, 2024

Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., declared her opposition to Green’s motion to vacate but opposed the effort to table it. “I fought a lot to change Pelosi rules and have more accountability on the speaker in Congress,” she explained.

I am not happy with where we are now, but would not vote to vacate the speaker at this time. However, I fought a lot to change Pelosi rules and have more accountability on the speaker in Congress, so I voted not to table the motion consistent with my vote on McCarthy last fall.

— Rep. Victoria Spartz (@RepSpartz) May 8, 2024

And finally, Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., put it bluntly when he said that “joining Democrats in a motion to table was more than I could stomach.”

While I may not agree with the timing of a MTV, joining Democrats in a motion to table was more than I could stomach. That is why I voted against the motion to table.

— Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) May 8, 2024

While Johnson’s critics will continue to complain that Democrats helped save him, more Republicans had his back Wednesday.

So where does Johnson go from here?

He most certainly shouldn’t let Democrat Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., dictate the chamber’s agenda for the next six month. Across the halls of the Capitol, Senate Democrats are already plotting to change the narrative on border security, one of President Joe Biden’s greatest vulnerabilities.

A sustained effort by the House to elevate the issue of illegal immigration is needed now more than ever. Republicans took an important step Wednesday to pass the Equal Representation Act, which prevents illegal aliens from influencing congressional representation and the Electoral College.

>>> House Passes Bill to Restore Citizenship Question to Census

Those same lawmakers must redouble their efforts on other fronts, including the strong measures already adopted in the Secure the Border Act (HR 2).

With only a few must-pass pieces of legislation remaining this Congress, there’s precious little time to squander the opportunity.

The post House of Drama: Speaker Johnson Survives Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Ouster Attempt appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Massie Shares Full Text of MTG's Excoriating Resolution to Strip Speaker Johnson's Gavel

Reps. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) have worked tirelessly for weeks to hold Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) accountable. Wednesday, they made their move.

The post Massie Shares Full Text of MTG’s Excoriating Resolution to Strip Speaker Johnson’s Gavel appeared first on Breitbart.

MTG Pulls the Trigger, Forces the House to Vote to Expel Speaker Johnson

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has filed a privileged motion to vacate the chair, forcing the House to vote within two legislative days to eject Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

The post MTG Pulls the Trigger, Forces the House to Vote to Expel Speaker Johnson appeared first on Breitbart.

Mike Johnson Insults MTG, Massie with Sneers: ‘This Is Not a Negotiation’

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) appears so assured by Democrat leadership's promise to save his speakership that he feels safe insulting conservatives in his own party.

The post Mike Johnson Insults MTG, Massie with Sneers: ‘This Is Not a Negotiation’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Conservatives Call for Mike Johnson to 'Come Home' to the Republican Party or Face Ouster Vote

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) convened Tuesday with a trio of Republicans calling for him to abandon his coalition government with Democrats and "come home" to the Republican Party that elevated him to the speakership.

The post Conservatives Call for Mike Johnson to ‘Come Home’ to the Republican Party or Face Ouster Vote appeared first on Breitbart.

Nancy Pelosi Backs Mike Johnson for Speaker

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said on Monday she supports Democrat efforts to keep Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in power.

The post Nancy Pelosi Backs Mike Johnson for Speaker appeared first on Breitbart.

Speaker Mike Johnson: MTG's Motion to Oust Me is 'Wrong'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) criticized the motion to vacate that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is bringing against him next week.

The post Speaker Mike Johnson: MTG’s Motion to Oust Me is ‘Wrong’ appeared first on Breitbart.

House Sergeant at Arms Threatens Thomas Massie with Fine for Videoing Democrats Waving Ukraine Flags

The House Sergeant at arms has threatened Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) with a $500 fine for posting a video on X of Democrats waving Ukraine flags as the House passed tens of billions in funding for Ukraine's faraway war effort against Russia, according to Massie.

The post House Sergeant at Arms Threatens Thomas Massie with Fine for Videoing Democrats Waving Ukraine Flags appeared first on Breitbart.

Speaker Mike Johnson Celebrates Democrats Seizing House: 'We're Happy'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) celebrated Democrats seizing the House by unprecedentedly relying on the opposition party to force President Joe Biden's priority of Ukraine border defense funds toward a full House vote on Saturday.

The post Speaker Mike Johnson Celebrates Democrats Seizing House: ‘We’re Happy’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Third Republican Announces Support for Ousting Johnson as House Speaker

A third House Republican has announced he will co-sponsor a motion to vacate introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., that, if passed, would end Mike Johnson’s tenure as House speaker after fewer than six months.

If all 213 House Democrats vote in support of the motion to remove Johnson, R-La., as speaker, only three Republicans would need to cross over for the motion to carry, 216-215, once Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., resigns, as he plans to do imminently.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., announced that he would join the Georgia Republican’s effort to oust Johnson, saying in a written statement:

[R]ather than spending the resources to secure our southern border and combating the invasion of 11 million illegals and despite repeated promises there would be no additional money going to Ukraine without first securing our border, the United States House of Representatives, under the direction of the speaker, is on the verge of sending another $61 billion to further draw America into an endless and purposeless war in Ukraine.

“Our border cannot be an afterthought,” Gosar added. “We need a speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers, neocons, and the military-industrial complex making billions from a costly and endless war half a world away.”

My statement joining .@RepThomasMassie on cosponsoring .@RepMTG Motion to Vacate:

Gosar Statement on Supporting the Motion to Vacate the Speaker

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after cosponsoring H.Res. 1103,…

— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) April 19, 2024

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., announced earlier this week he supports Greene’s motion to vacate.

Gosar’s decision comes as Johnson relied on House Democrats’ votes to pass a series of foreign aid bills opposed by many conservative Republicans.

Johnson brushed off the threat of Greene’s motion to vacate Wednesday, saying: “I am not resigning. And it is in my view an absurd notion that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our jobs.”

Johnson became House speaker in October after the ouster from the post of his predecessor, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., by a motion to vacate. The Kentucky Republican has faced increasing pressure from conservatives in the House.

Johnson continues to have the support of former President Donald Trump, who said Johnson is doing a “very good job” when the two appeared together April 12 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

“I stand with the speaker,” Trump said.

Johnson was elected House speaker with the votes of 220 Republicans. His predecessor, McCarthy, was removed as speaker after eight Republicans and all Democrats voted against him.

Since Johnson became speaker, McCarthy and Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., have resigned and left Congress. Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., was expelled in a House vote, and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., plans to resign soon.

When Gallagher leaves office, that will leave 217 Republicans and 213 Democrats, a razor-thin Republican majority.

Jarrett Stepman contributed to this report.

This article has been corrected to reflect which state Johnson represents.

The post Third Republican Announces Support for Ousting Johnson as House Speaker appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Johnson: Motion to Vacate 'Harmed this Office,' But We Lack the Votes to Change the Rules for Now

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) came out Thursday in opposition to the current rules on the motion to vacate that threatens to end his speakership, lamenting he does not have the votes to change the rules at this time.

The post Johnson: Motion to Vacate ‘Harmed this Office,’ But We Lack the Votes to Change the Rules for Now appeared first on Breitbart.

Breakdown: Foreign Aid Bills Would Send $95 Billion to Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific

The bills in the House's foreign aid package, which will be up for a vote Saturday, would appropriate a combined $95 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, with a lion's share of $60.84 billion for Ukraine.

The post Breakdown: Foreign Aid Bills Would Send $95 Billion to Ukraine, Israel, Indo-Pacific appeared first on Breitbart.

GOP Rep. Armstrong on Attempts to Oust Speaker Johnson: 'I Don’t Know Who Would Want the Job at This Point'

By: Pam Key · Pam Key

Representative Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) said Wednesday on MSNBC’s "Andrea Mitchell Reports" that his fellow Republicans pushing an effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) did not have a replacement plan.

The post GOP Rep. Armstrong on Attempts to Oust Speaker Johnson: ‘I Don’t Know Who Would Want the Job at This Point’ appeared first on Breitbart.

Johnson Rejects Call for Resignation, Says MTG’s Massie-Backed Motion to Vacate Is ‘Absurd’

A defiant House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declared Tuesday at a press conference he would not resign after being urged to do so by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who is now cosponsoring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-GA) motion to oust him from the speakership.

The post Johnson Rejects Call for Resignation, Says MTG’s Massie-Backed Motion to Vacate Is ‘Absurd’ appeared first on Breitbart.

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