Washington, D.C. – House Democrats have decided to put an end to the push to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, in response to threats from Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other hardliners. The decision was announced by Democratic leadership on Tuesday, following a period of national security work.
In a statement, Democratic leaders expressed their intention to table Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Motion to Vacate the Chair, emphasizing the need to move past what they referred to as “Pro-Putin Republican obstruction.” Greene, however, indicated that she plans to proceed with the motion to vacate Johnson in order to hold members accountable.
Johnson defended his need for Democratic support to remain as Speaker, stating that a functioning Congress is essential for the country at this time. When asked about relying on Democratic support, Johnson expressed hope for the support of everyone in Congress, as well as the entire nation.
Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie, who joined Greene’s effort, viewed the Democrats’ decision to save Johnson as a boost to their efforts to remove him. He highlighted the potential impact of House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ endorsement of Johnson on their cause.
On the other hand, Greene declined to answer questions from reporters but announced plans to address their efforts to oust Johnson at a news conference with Massie scheduled for the following morning. Despite initial concerns about the motion to vacate, House Republicans indicated that the effort was effectively halted.
Republican Rep. Kat Cammack of Florida confirmed that there had been no progress on the threat to remove Johnson since the House recess. Similarly, Oklahoma Republican Kevin Hern minimized the motion-to-vacate threats, stating that it was not a topic of discussion among House Republicans.
In the midst of uncertainty surrounding Johnson’s position, he stated that he had not engaged in discussions with Greene regarding the motion to vacate threat. The evolving situation was updated with additional developments, underscoring the ongoing political dynamics within the House leadership.