The House of Representatives on May 8 overwhelmingly voted to block a measure to strip House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of the gavel advanced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) then offered a measure to table Ms. Greene’s motion to vacate. Democrats joined Republicans to approve its shelving in a 359 to 43 vote. Eleven Republicans voted to move forward with the ouster attempt.
House Democrat leaders had earlier pledged to help protect Mr. Johnson in the event of Ms. Greene’s ouster vote, citing his help in passing $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific.
Speaking on the House floor during what was intended to be the final vote of the week, Ms. Greene unleashed a litany of complaints against Mr. Johnson.
She received a loud “boo” from members present when she brought the resolution to the floor.
The Georgia lawmaker was accompanied by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), one of two Republicans who openly expressed support for the measure.
Following the vote, in remarks to the press, Mr. Johnson expressed thanks to his colleagues who voted to kill the motion to vacate, which he called “misguided” and a “distraction.”
Mr. Johnson said that it is time to move onto solving issues in the United States and electing former President Donald Trump in November.
Ms. Greene, on the House floor, cited a series of alleged conservative failures by Mr. Johnson, alleging that he had “aided and abetted the Biden administration in destroying our country.”
These included his move to allow a vote on a motion to expel Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) from the lower chamber, marking the first time in U.S. history that a member has been expelled before a conviction for a crime.
Ms. Greene also cited his move to pass a 1,000-page, $1.2 trillion government funding package after giving lawmakers less than 72 hours to consider it, as required by internal rules.
The Georgia Republican also noted that Mr. Johnson’s move to pass billions in foreign aid for Ukraine came without any demands on border security, effectively yielding any leverage Republicans had over the issue.
Additionally, she noted Mr. Johnson’s crucial vote to kill a warrant requirement for the reauthorization of a controversial surveillance power.
Republican supporters of Mr. Johnson took a victory lap following the vote to table the motion to strip Mr. Johnson of the gavel.
Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.) said that the vote “validated” that Mr. Johnson is “doing a good job” as speaker.
“It is overwhelming that the majority of, certainly of our conference, and even a good number of Democrats understand the absolute value of not sending this place into turmoil yet again,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), referring to the October ouster of Mr. Johnson’s predecessor, former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was stripped of the gavel through what was the first successful motion to vacate.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) noted that the 11 Republicans who voted against tabling the motion to vacate—Ms. Greene, Mr. Massie, Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Alex Mooney (R-Va.), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), and Chip Roy (R-Texas)—joined opponents that included members of the far-left group “The Squad” that includes Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.)
President Trump, whom Ms. Greene is a staunch supporter of, said that while he is a fan of Ms. Greene, the GOP needs to focus on combating the Democrats especially with the one-vote majority the GOP has in the House and with the general election just months away.
“Mike Johnson is a good man who is trying very hard. I also wish certain things were done over the last period of two months, but we will get them done, together,” he continued.
Ms. Greene said President Trump was not wrong in his statement.
The Georgia lawmaker did not say whether she would put forth another motion to vacate.
