Marjorie Taylor Greene Keeps Heat on Speaker Johnson Amid Ukraine, Surveillance Clashes
By Jake Beardslee ·
April 10, 2024
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene emerged from a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday still frustrated over his handling of key issues, keeping her threat to try to remove him as speaker alive. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia
The Georgia Republican said she received "excuses" from Johnson but no firm commitments during their nearly hour-long talk, according to ABC News. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia
"This meeting didn't clarify my timing [on a motion to vacate the speaker]," Greene said, adding that "a lot" of GOP members back her push despite some criticism. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia
Greene has accused Johnson of being too accommodating to Democrats on issues like the Ukraine aid package and reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The White House/Wikimedia
"I don't want to cause harm to our conference," she said after the meeting. "This is something that's going to take time." Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia
Johnson defended working with Democrats given the House GOP's razor-thin majority, saying: "We are not going to get, because of that reality, we are not going to be able to do big transformational changes that we'd like." Office of Speaker Mike Johnson/Wikimedia
He warned that a shutdown or vacating the speaker would bring "chaos" unhelpful for Republicans ahead of 2024 elections. Office of Speaker Mike Johnson/Wikimedia
On Ukraine, Greene bluntly stated: "The United States border is the only border that matters..." Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia
Though Johnson said Ukraine aid details were still being worked out, he acknowledged "the clock is ticking" to get it passed. Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America/Wikimedia
Trouble mounted for Johnson later Wednesday when 19 Republicans unexpectedly voted against a key procedural vote on FISA reauthorization, despite Johnson and the White House calling it critical for national security. Office of Congressman Mike Johnson/Wikimedia
"We will regroup and formulate another plan," a resigned Johnson told reporters. U.S. Secretary of Defense/Wikimedia
"It's never helpful for the majority party to take down its own rule," Johnson stated. Office of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson/Wikimedia
