‘Unforgivable’: GOP Congressman Blasts Jim Jordan’s ‘Threatening Tactics,’ Says He and His Family Received ‘Death Threats’

Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP Images

Republican Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-GA) tore into his colleague Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) on Thursday and accused him of using “threatening tactics” in his bid for House speaker. Ferguson went on to say “my family and I started receiving death threats” after he voted against Jordan in his second failed bid to become speaker.

“As the Republican Conference designee, I supported Congressman Jordan on the first ballot,” Ferguson said in a statement, adding:

Following the first vote, I had genuine concerns about the threatening tactics and pressure campaigns Jordan and his allies were using to leverage members for their votes. I discussed this directly with Jim, and planned to support him on the second ballot.

When the pressure campaigns and attacks on fellow members ramped up, it became clear to me that the House Republican Conference does not need a bully as the Speaker. I cast my vote for Majority Leader Steve Scalise, a principled conservative and unifying leader.

“Shortly after casting that vote, my family and I started receiving death-threats. That is simply unacceptable, unforgivable, and will never be tolerated,” Ferguson concluded.

Earlier in the week, the wife of Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said she received “multiple anonymous emails and texts” demanding her husband support Jordan. Jordan suspended his bid for speaker on Thursday and said he would not move for a third-floor vote after having lost support during the second vote on Wednesday.

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