OAN’s Avril Elfie
11:17am – Tuesday, April 16, 2024
A second House Republican supports replacing House Speaker Mike Johnson.
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On Tuesday, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) threatened to vote to oust Mr. Johnson (R-Louisiana) unless he did so first.
He is the second Republican to file a motion against Johnson, after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed the motion last month.
“I asked him to resign… and he said he would not resign,” Massey told reporters after the meeting. “And I said, you’re the one who’s going to get us into this because a motion is called, you understand?” A motion is called. ”
He went on to say that Johnson would lose more Republican support than the eight House Republicans who voted to expel former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year.
“I will not resign,” Johnson said at his weekly press conference afterwards.
“In my opinion, it’s a stupid idea for someone to file a motion to nullify. We’re just here trying to do our job. It’s not helpful,” Johnson said. “It does not help House Republicans advance our policies that are in the best interest of the American people.”
Mr Massey, along with other conservatives, opposes Mr Johnson’s foreign aid plans for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan, which were announced on Monday night. The plan would create four separate bills on foreign aid, with a fourth on other national security priorities.
The Kentucky congressman predicted the plan would not be able to get past the first procedural hurdle in the House.
“I’m the canary in the coal mine. This rule expires on arrival,” Massey said.
“You should kill this whole bill and then announce that you’re not going to remain speaker,” Massey told Johnson, according to a Republican who attended the closed session.
Another MP said Johnson responded by saying, “Just give it a try.”
None of the House Republicans present at the meeting expressed support for Massey’s efforts, but they were reportedly divided on whether his accusations had merit.
Mr. Massey said he intended to sign Mr. Greene’s motion to expel Mr. Johnson, but there is nothing to force House Republicans to vote unless a privilege motion is filed.
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