House Republicans are working with the Democratic Party to ensure Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) does not secure the speaker’s role, according to a up-to-date report.
NBC News reported that U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) and several other Republicans participated in closed-door meetings with Democratic House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to reach a solution to prevent Jordan from obtaining the required 218 votes to become the up-to-date Speaker House of Representatives.
To succeed, only five Republicans need to vote no.
“They put us in this ditch with eight traitors,” Rogers told reporters. “We are still the majority party; “We are willing to work with them, but they have to tell us what they need.”
On Sunday, Jefferies confirmed that the parties conspired against Jordan to prevent him from taking former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (Calif.) seat.
“Informal talks are taking place. As we return to Washington tomorrow, it’s important to start formalizing these discussions,” Jeffries said in an interview on Meet the Press.
“From the very beginning of this Congress, House Democrats have made clear that we want to continue to put people above politics and fight for things like lower costs, better-paying jobs, safer communities, and building an economy that works from middle and bottom to top. “House Republicans, on the other hand, were focused on fighting each other,” he continued. “It’s time to end the Republican Civil War so we can get back to doing the business of the American people. And we as House Democrats are committed to finding that bipartisan path in a meaningful way.”
Rogers called the eight Republicans who decided to oust McCarthy “traitors” and “paralyzed” the GOP wing.
He also reportedly said there was nothing Jordan could do to gain his support as House Speaker.
McCarthy, on the other hand, gave Jordan his full support, saying he thought the Ohio congressman “would do a great job.”
Jefferies said it was because of his “Republican colleagues” that formal talks had not yet begun.
