Growing Number Of Anti-Jordan Republicans Are Reporting ‘Credible Death Threats’
A growing number of House Republicans have come forward to say they received “credible death threats,” and profanity-laced calls and tweets, after declining to support the far-right’s Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) in his bid to become speaker of the House.
CNN’s Jake Tapper said Jordan wasn’t giving up his efforts to “bully his way into the House speaker’s chamber,” despite twice failing to garner the 217 votes needed, and continuing to lose Republican support:
Nor are his supporters giving up, some of them going so far as to threaten Republicans and their spouses if those Republicans voted against Jordan’s grab for the speaker’s gavel. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks from Iowa said in a statement, quote, she has received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls after flipping her speaker vote from Jordan on Tuesday for House appropriations chairwoman Kay Granger on Wednesday.
Congressman Steve Womack of Arkansas said his office has been flooded with calls, and there’s been, quote, “lots of profanity.” And Nebraska congressman Don Bacon’s wife receiving menacing text messages.
Tapper spoke about the tweet Jordan put out Wednesday that condemned the threats, saying, “No American should accost another for their beliefs. We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It’s abhorrent.”
But Tapper questioned why it took so long for Jordan to speak out, saying, “Of course, the campaign to pressure people was announced on I think Saturday night or Sunday morning. He came out yesterday.”
Capitol Hill reporter Melanie Zanona said Jordan was trying to meet with Republican hold-outs in anticipation of a third vote, but that some were refusing to even take his calls.
“One of the reasons why they are so upset is because of those death threats you mentioned,” Zanona said. “A number of these holdouts are getting angry calls, menacing messages, death threats. I’m told that one of those members who voted against Jim Jordan had to have a sheriff stationed at his daughter’s school because of these threats this person is getting.”
Axios Capitol Hill reporter Juliegrace Brufke identified that House member as Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA), tweeting, “Per a senior GOP source, ‘Ferguson told the conference that he‘s had to have a sheriff stationed at his daughter’s school over death threats from the far right. Also one at his house.'”
Jordan said he plans to take his candidacy to the House floor after making his case before the 20 GOP hold-outs.
Watch the clip above via CNN.
