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Reps. Greene and Massie Pushing to Bring Motion to Vacate Against Rep. Mike Johnson
Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie have pledged to initiate a motion to vacate against Representative Mike Johnson, a move that could potentially jeopardize Johnson’s position as Speaker of the House. This maneuver suggests that the Speaker will need the support of Democratic legislators to retain his leadership role.
Massie’s Standpoint
During a conversation with reporters, Rep. Massie (R-KY) disclosed, “I asked him to resign, and his response indicated that he had no intention to do so. Consequently, I emphasized that the onus would be on him, as the motion is inevitable. When the motion is executed, he will face a significant loss of support, surpassing that of Kevin McCarthy. I conveyed this message to him privately several weeks ago.”
CNN’s Manu Raju highlighted the impending situation, stating that Johnson would likely need the backing of Democratic representatives to secure his position following the departure of Gallagher and the potential motion to remove him from office.
Support and Opposition Within the Democratic Ranks
Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz has expressed his willingness to support Johnson in the face of Greene’s motion to oust him. Additionally, Rep. Tom Suozzi and others have indicated their intention to vote in favor of retaining Johnson’s role.
Moskowitz emphasized, “Democrats have consistently opposed even minor initiatives proposed by her, so allowing her to introduce a motion to vacate is out of the question.” Conversely, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) stated that Democrats would stand by Johnson’s side if he demonstrates his commitment by passing legislation to assist Ukraine; failure to do so may erode Democratic support.
Inevitability of the Motion
It is inevitable that the motion to vacate will be introduced by Rep. Greene, triggering a mandatory vote within two legislative days. The underlying tension stems from the Republican faction’s obstruction of aid to Ukraine, potentially influencing Johnson’s fate.
The course of action that Johnson takes concerning Ukraine will likely dictate whether Democrats rally behind him or allow House Republicans to stir up further turmoil within the chamber.
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