(FixThisNation.com) – Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio has strongly denounced the “abhorrent” threats directed at fellow Republicans who did not support his bid for House speaker. Jordan, who faced defeat in his second attempt to become House speaker on Wednesday, issued a statement in response to Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa revealing that she received “credible death threats” for not backing his candidacy.
In his statement posted on social media, Jordan emphasized the importance of respecting diverse beliefs and condemned any threats against colleagues, describing such behavior as abhorrent. Miller-Meeks, who initially supported Jordan in the first ballot, later changed her vote to Rep. Kay Granger of Texas in the second round, leading to alleged threats against her.
Jordan had garnered 199 votes in the latest ballot, still far from the 217 votes required for a House floor majority. It remains uncertain whether he can gather the unanimous GOP support necessary to break the current deadlock in the House.
The revelation of death threats against Miller-Meeks follows other instances of anonymous threats directed at Republicans who did not support Jordan. Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, who twice voted for Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader, also spoke out against such intimidation tactics, noting that it did not influence his vote and emphasized the importance of maintaining civility in political discourse.
Screenshots of threatening texts sent to Angie Bacon, Rep. Bacon’s wife, were shared on social media. One message suggested that failing to vote for Jordan would result in him never holding political office again.
Another House speaker vote is expected to take place, but it remains to be seen if Jordan can secure enough GOP votes to secure the position. Democrats are expected to continue backing Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who received more votes than Jordan in the latest ballot.
During this process, some Republicans who did not support Jordan in the first round have criticized the strong-arm tactics employed by his supporters, which had deterred them from supporting the hardline lawmaker. This incident underscores the challenges and tensions within the Republican party during the House speaker selection process.
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