House Chaos Continues As Jim Jordan Takes Another Shot At Becoming Speaker; Holdouts Complain Of Death Threats And Harassment
20.10.2023 - 15:31
/ deadline.com
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) sought to flip 22 Republican holdouts who have blocked his path to House speakership today, but there was little sign that he is getting any closer to clinching the leadership post.
In fact, acrimony and tension has only seemed to harden as the week has gone on, as a number of those opposed to his candidacy have complained of receiving death threats and harassment, fueled by a pressure campaign from right wing media. CNN on Thursday played an expletive filled voicemail message that was directed at the wife of an unidentified Republican holdout.
Jordan sought to sway members with an 11-minute press conference in the Rayburn Room of the Capitol, against the backdrop of American flags. He talked about the urgency of electing a speaker and getting the House open again, yet he rejected the idea that he was causing additional delay by refusing to drop out. “There’s been multiple rounds for speaker before,” he said.
With 427 members present for the third vote, Jordan needs 214 votes to win the speakership.
At the press conference, Jordan also declined to back away from his position that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries seized on Jordan’s comments, telling reporters that Jordan was a “clear and present danger.”
Reporters on Capitol Hill have run out of superlatives to describe the level of discord that has paralyzed the Republican conference, underscored on Thursday when members shouted at each other during a four-hour meeting. One member blocked another on X/Twitter.
“This is a fight between the institutionalists and the Trump populists,” former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) said on CNN.
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