WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans will be forced to go on record, defend or reprimand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which drew double condemnation for her embrace of far-right conspiracy theories, as well as her previous endorsement of violence against Democrats.
The politically disturbing vote expected Thursday, which will determine whether the Georgia Republican is deprived of her committee appointments, underscores tensions over the best political path forward the party has torn since Donald Trump lost the White House..
Democrats issued an ultimatum earlier this week urging Republicans from the House to strip Greene of her committee duties – otherwise they would do so. Two-pronged pressure built after Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell called Greene’s loony lies a “cancer” for the party.
But House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, ruled out taking action on Wednesday. Instead, he accuses the Democrats of a ‘partisan power grab’ for targeting Greene, who once suggested that a Jewish-owned financial venture was involved in a conspiracy to spark California wildfires with using a space laser.
“If it’s not the bottom, I do not know what the hell is going on,” House Rules Committee chairman Jim McGovern, D-Mass., Said before sending a resolution to the House floor to remove Greene from her post. syrup.
McCarthy’s decision to support Greene comes at a time when the party is ideologically threatening Trump’s loss, and has struggled to accept his norm – dividing divisions or the more traditional, policy – oriented conservative values of the IDP.
House Republicans on Wednesday launched an effort by conservative hardliners to get Republican no. 3, rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, to step down from her leadership role, blocked. Cheney, a daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, angered Trump supporters by voting for accusations him about the riot at the American Capitol.
By keeping both women, McCarthy tried to appease both traditional conservatives and populists, like Greene, who follows Trump. The moves were typical of McCarthy’s preference to avoid annoying feathers, as he points his way to becoming a House speaker one day.
“Do you know what that’s going to mean?” he told reporters Wednesday night. ‘In two years’ time we will win the majority. This is because this conference is more united. We have the right leadership team behind it. ”
But the GOP’s wings remain concerned that the others are leading them astray, and for some, Wednesday’s outcome seemed more like an awkward ceasefire than a full peace treaty.
“It’s about the direction of our party and whether we are going to be a majority dedicated to just one person, or whether we are going to be a united Republican majority,” Rep. Jaime Herrera-Beutler, R-Wash., Who along with Cheney was one of the ten Republicans of the House to accuse Trump.
Greene has shown support for calls for violence against Democrats, bizarre fictions about fake school shootings and unfounded QAnon theories about Democrats engaging in child abuse.
The conspiracy theories she embraced came up during a closed Republican caucus meeting on Wednesday, which the attendees described as excited with long lines of speakers at the microphones. Some said Greene apologized to her colleagues, although there were conflicting, vague versions of exactly what she said.
“She was shocked. And I think she brought a lot of people to her side, “said Conservative representative Thomas Massie, R-Ky.
This is contrary to the statements she has made over the past few weeks on Twitter, where she has promised that she will never withdraw her traitors from critics or apologize, while using the Democratic pressure to punish her for money in to raise for her campaign.
Democrats say it is politically beneficial to connect Republicans to the far-right Greene. This week, the Democratic congressional campaign committee launched a $ 500,000 advertising campaign that seeks to link eight Republicans to her and other QAnon supporters, focusing on the false belief that top Democrats are involved in the child sex and cannibalism trade .
McCarthy condemned Greene’s previous endorsements of conspiracy theories – after weeks of little criticism of her – and said that the congresswoman initially acknowledged in a private conversation that she, as a legislator, must meet a higher standard.
“I keep her word as well as her actions going forward,” McCarthy said.
She erupts on the national political scene with enthusiastic support from Trump.
Republicans appointed Greene to the Education and Labor Committee, a decision that drew particularly harsh criticism because of her proposals that mass shootings in Connecticut and Florida could be a hoax. Greene is also on the Budget Committee.
McCarthy said Democrats would rather reject his offer to move Greene to the House Small Business Committee.
It is unusual for party leaders to deprive legislators of committee appointments, which can help them address their district needs and make contributions to the campaign.
In 2019, leaders of the House of Commons, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who had a history of racist comments, removed from the Agriculture and Judges panels after wondering aloud in a New York Times story about when the term “white supremacist” became offensive. . He lost the Republican primary for his seat in 2020 and is out of Congress after serving nine terms.
In online videos and through supportive ‘likes’ on social media, Greene expressed support for racist beliefs, calling for violence against House President Nancy Pelosi and former President Barack Obama and various false theories.