The 145-61 vote in favor of keeping Cheney in leadership, conducted by secret ballot, followed a marathon closed-door “family discussion” in the basement of the Capitol Visitor Center, where dozens of House Republicans lined up to voice their frustrations with the Wyoming representative, the most powerful GOP woman in Congress, and called for her removal as conference chair, a role that entails leading the party’s messaging efforts.
The vote was the latest and most dramatic manifestation of the civil war raging within the GOP over the direction the party should take in the post-Trump era, a debate that has become increasingly contentious following the deadly attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6.
McCarthy, the House Republican leader, had huddled with Greene in his office in the Capitol on Tuesday evening. Afterwards, McCarthy hosted a second meeting with the GOP Steering and Policy Committee to discuss Greene s fate. No decisions were made, but leaders are expected to meet again on Wednesday, and the full Republican conference also has a planned gathering at 4 p.m, when the topic is sure to be a major focus.
Hoyer has already spoken with McCarthy about Greene at least once this week. Democratic leaders remain in the dark about how McCarthy will proceed, according to a Democratic leadership aide, but they re insisting that GOP leaders remove Greene from both committees, or Democrats will take that step themselves by moving the Wasserman Schultz bill.
“The Lincoln Project has had no interaction with Congresswoman Cheney,” the never Trump GOP super PAC said in a statement. “That said, we think she d take Matt Gaetz in a fight with one hand tied behind her back.
The organization issued the statement in response to what it said were “rumor[s] circulating” about coordination with Cheney, the highest-ranking House Republican to vote in favor of Trump’s impeachment in January.
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“This is yet another baseless lie being spread by the Jim Crow Caucus and its leader [House Minority Leader] Kevin McCarthy
“It s telling that Republican leadership spends more time focusing on an imaginary alliance than it does exposing and condemning the QAnon conspiracies being spread by members of their own caucus,” the statement added, an apparent reference to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
The toughly worded statement used critical remarks from Republicans such as Senate Minority Whip John Thune
Democrats have set up a House vote Thursday to remove Greene from her committee assignments because of a series of controversial past statements by the first-term lawmaker, who has questioned whether school shootings were faked and supported calls for violence against Pelosi and other Democratic officials.
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“After several conversations and literally running away from reporters, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Q-CA) made clear that he is refusing to take action against conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,” the release stated.
“As a result, the House will continue with a vote to strip Greene of her seat on the esteemed House Committee on Education & Labor and House Committee on Budget. McCarthy’s failure to lead his party effectively hands the keys over to Greene – an anti-Semite, QAnon adherent and 9/11 Truther.
Republicans will do anything to distract from the fact that they have not only allowed but elevated members of their own caucus who encourage violence. It’s time to stop whitewashing the actions of the violent conspiracy theorists, who pose a direct and immediate threat to their fellow Members of Congress and our most fundamental democratic processes, Omar said in a statement.
Democrats have set up a Thursday vote to strip Greene of her committee assignments for promoting violent conspiracy theories.
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On Tuesday, a group of House Republicans led by Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) filed an amendment to Democrats resolution to strip Greene of her seats on the House Education and Labor and Budget committees that would instead replace Greene s name with Omar s.