Multiple members who’ve opposed Rep. Jim Jordan’s bid for House speaker on the floor are going public with claims of death threats and other intimidation tactics they’ve faced as his bid for the gavel has come up short to date.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa): The Iowa Republican flipped to oppose Jordan on the floor Wednesday and said in a statement that “I have received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls” since doing so. “One thing I cannot stomach, or support is a bully,” she added.
Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.): The New York freshman posted an image of a threatening message he received, pledging to “whip all of the hair out of your fucking head” if they met. “I will not succumb to threats,” he vowed. He’s opposed Jordan both times on the floor.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.): Opposed twice to Jordan on the floor, Bacon shared images of threatening anonymous texts received by his wife.
Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), also opposed to Jordan, said he’d too received threats. “Early on, there was a chance that some of [the opponents] might be able to come around, and then we got into the attack dogs tactics,” he said. “[Jordan]’s done nothing to stop it, in my opinion, that I believe would be effective enough to call the dogs off.” Others have indicated they’ve too faced threats.
Did Womack think anyone would change their positions? He said no. “It’s almost like watching concrete set. For a while, it can be changed up with a little pressure. But, over time, it hardens.”
Jordan condemned the threats against Miller-Meeks when asked late Wednesday. “Those are terrible and that should never happen. And it’s just wrong. We don’t want it to happen anyone, any American, anybody, any member of Congress,” he said. “It’s just wrong.” On social media, he repeated that plea to stop harassing his opponents.
Jordan is vowing to push ahead with his speakership bid even as his opponents show little sign of wavering. “We want to get there as quickly as we can,” he said of having the votes, adding there’s “supposed to be” a third ballot on the floor Thursday. The chamber is due to come into session at noon.
