LA News Center – LA News Center is reporting that Louisiana’s Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a renewed motion to vacate threats, just a day after he introduced a plan to pass foreign aid. This escalated tension within the House Republican conference.
Conservatives Cry Foul
The catalyst for this latest move was Representative Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) threat to force a vote to oust the speaker during a closed-door conference meeting on Tuesday morning. Massie’s demand was contingent on Johnson not stepping aside willingly. He’s the second conservative to formally challenge Johnson’s leadership after Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) filed a motion to vacate last month.
Johnson Defiant Amidst Criticism
“I asked him to resign…he said he would not,” Massie told reporters after the meeting.
Massie doubled down, stating that Johnson would lose more GOP support than the eight House Republicans who voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy last year. Johnson, however, remained defiant at his weekly press conference, firmly stating, “I am not resigning.”
Aid Plan as a Lightning Rod
Massie’s primary grievance stems from Johnson’s plan for aid to Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan, which was announced Monday night. The proposal faces resistance from conservatives like Massie, who contend that it lacks provisions for border security.
“I’m the canary in the coal mine. This rule’s dead on arrival,” Massie declared, predicting that the plan wouldn’t even pass its initial procedural hurdle on the House floor.
Internal Division Persists
While no House Republicans leaving the Tuesday morning meeting explicitly endorsed Massie’s effort, they were divided on whether his accusations held merit.
“I think if the speaker ignores the obvious desire of the conference to include border control, and I think a lot of people who want part of this to be paid for, I think he ignores that at his own risk,” House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) told LA News Center.
Meanwhile, Representative Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.) denounced Massie’s threat as “ridiculous” and lauded Johnson’s leadership under challenging circumstances. Massie indicated that he would sign onto Greene’s existing resolution to vacate Johnson, but its passage remains uncertain unless it’s filed as a privileged motion.
