Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) is fuming at her colleagues in the House Freedom Caucus over their opposition to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) bid for speaker.
Greene, who has been a vocal supporter of McCarthy, spoke to reporters on Tuesday about conservative lawmakers opposed to his bid for speaker. She expressed frustration those in opposition did not use their negotiations to try to extract a benefit for her.
“I haven’t asked for one thing for myself, and I’m the only Republican that has zero committees,” the congresswoman said. “So you would think I would be the one in there asking for something. But I haven’t done that.”
She went on, “But I find out that its my Freedom Caucus colleagues and my supposed friends went and did that. And they asked [for] nothing for me. Nothing. That’s what I found out in there. I am furious.”
Watch the video below:
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who backs Kevin McCarthy for Speaker, slams fellow Freedom Caucus colleagues:
— The Recount (@therecount) January 3, 2023
“I’m the only Republican that has zero committees … I find out that … my supposed ‘friends’ that went and did that and they asked nothing for me … I am furious.” pic.twitter.com/TOT4AolhhU
In October, Greene told The New York Times she would like to be on the House Oversight Committee or House Judiciary Committee when Republicans are in the majority.
“I think that to be the best speaker of the House and to please the base, he’s going to give me a lot of power and a lot of leeway,” she said of McCarthy, adding, “And if he doesn’t, they’re going to be very unhappy about it. I think that’s the best way to read that. And that’s not in any way a threat at all. I just think that’s reality.”
Her comments on Tuesday come as the House was scheduled to vote to choose the new speaker.
The process could be a spectacle not seen in 100 years as McCarthy has struggled to lock down the required votes.
As of Tuesday morning, there were five so-called “Never Kevin” Republicans who have publicly stated they oppose his bid for speaker — he can only afford four defections if the full House votes. And Politico reports one McCarthy ally believes there could be as many as a dozen House Republicans opposed to him.
Also on Tuesday morning, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), the chair of the Freedom Caucus, released a statement blasting the minority leader and suggesting he “rejected” the chance to be the speaker.”
The opposition to McCarthy from Freedom Caucus members sparked a spat between two of its members.
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who opposes McCarthy, knocked Greene when asked about her support for the California Republican.
“I’ve been aligned with Marjorie and accused of believing a lot of the things that she believes in. I don’t believe in this, just like I don’t believe in Russian space lasers, Jewish space lasers, and all of this,” Boebert told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
Greene fired back on Twitter as she wrote, “I’ve supported and donated to Lauren Boebert. President Trump has supported and donated to Lauren Boebert. Kevin McCarthy has supported and donated to Lauren Boebert. She just barely came through by 500 votes.”
She gladly takes our $$$ but when she’s been asked:
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) December 19, 2022
Lauren refuses to endorse President Trump, she refuses to support Kevin McCarthy, and she childishly threw me under the bus for a cheap sound bite.
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She charged Boebert “gladly takes our $$$ but when she’s been asked: Lauren refuses to endorse President Trump, she refuses to support Kevin McCarthy, and she childishly threw me under the bus for a cheap sound bite.”
