GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz said the eight Republicans that voted to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy sent a letter to their colleagues encouraging them to vote for Jim Jordan for speaker and that they are willing to “accept some consequence” in order to get them to do so.
“If what these holdouts need is a pound of our flesh, we’re willing to give it to them in order to see the election of Jordan for Speaker,” Gaetz said standing alongside GOP Reps. Crane, Good and Tim Burchett just after the failed vote.
“If what people need is to see the eight of us rapped on the knuckles in order to get onto the business of governing, what we’re saying is we’re open minded,” Gaetz added.
In terms of specific consequences, Gaetz said they “are willing to accept censure, sanction, suspension, removal from the Republican conference, we of course will remain Republicans, we will continue to vote with Republicans on Republican principles.”
Many holdouts have expressed that their hesitation lies with the strong arm tactics used. Gaetz insisted that was the work of outside groups and not Jordan.
“We know Jim Jordan, I’ve worked with Jim Jordan on the House Judiciary Committee. He’s not a person who leads to strong arm tactics. I think Jim Jordan has been unfairly blamed by some for the tactics of outside groups that Jim Jordan has no control over,” Gaetz said.
The eight that voted to remove McCarthy said they don’t support removing Patrick McHenry as Pro Tem. “Speaker McHenry Pro Tem deserves credit for resisting calls to expand the pro tem role beyond how it is contemplated in the Constitution. Patrick McHenry has earned our respect for having abided by the limitations on the power of the pro tem position and for that you should be commended.”
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