- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a “motion to vacate” against Speaker Mike Johnson in March.
- She argues that Johnson has betrayed the GOP, in part by allowing more Ukraine aid to pass.
- Since then, more Republicans have signed onto her effort, but Democrats could protect Johnson.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene doesn’t think Mike Johnson deserves his job anymore. She’s no longer alone.
The Georgia congresswoman is getting back-up on the so-called “motion to vacate” she filed against the GOP speaker of the House in March: two more Republicans signed on this week.
These GOP lawmakers argue Johnson is betraying his party, first by passing compromise government funding bills that were not sufficiently hard-right and now by working with Democrats to pass more aid to Ukraine.
But the circumstances are far different from October, when then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted via a motion to vacate for the first time in American history.
That effort, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and supported by 7 of his colleagues, was only successful because every single House Democrat voted for it. Democrats loathed McCarthy, and the ex-speaker did little to incentivize them to protect him from Gaetz’s effort.
This time, several Democrats have indicated they’re willing to protect Johnson — likely by voting to table Greene’s motion — if he passes Ukraine aid, as he plans to do on Saturday.
Greene has not yet forced a vote on her resolution, and it’s unclear when she will. If Democrats were to vote for her resolution, she now has enough votes to oust Johnson.
It’s unclear who would succeed the Louisiana Republican, and the House could be thrown back into weeks of chaos if Greene is successful.
Here are the Republicans who want to fire Johnson
Marjorie Taylor Greene: The Georgia congresswoman filed her motion at the end of March, the day that the House approved a government funding bill that she hated. She has since taken to blasting Johnson on a nearly daily basis on social media.
Thomas Massie: The Kentucky congressman announced in a conference meeting this week that he would be cosponsoring Greene’s motion. An idiosyncratic libertarian who’s used to taking lonely positions, Massie is upset with Johnson for numerous reasons, including approving foreign aid and pushing through a bill that re-authorizes government spy powers.
Paul Gosar: The Arizona congressman signed onto Greene’s motion Friday to protest Johnson’s move to approve more Ukraine aid, saying in a statement: “We need a Speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers, neo-cons and the military-industrial complex.”
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