Two Republican legislators are saying they have received death threats after opposing Jim Jordan’s speaker nomination.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) supported Jordan’s candidacy in the first roll call vote Tuesday for “the greater good of the House Republican Party.” In a statement, the southeastern Iowa representative said she voted for Jordan despite her misgivings about “threatening tactics” employed by Jordan supporters, “including members of Congress.”
Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.) tore into Jordan explicitly for using “threatening tactics” in his bid to assume the speakership. In a statement posted to X, Ferguson added, “my family and I started receiving death threats” after he rescinded his support for Jordan in his second vote for speaker.
“As the Republican Conference designee, I supported Congressman Jordan on the first ballot,” Ferguson stated, echoing Miller-Meeks, before 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,” the Georgia Republican concluded.
Ferguson said that death threats began coming into his congressional office as soon as he reversed his support for Jordan.
Similarly, Miller-Meeks said that once it became clear Jordan had lost more than four votes in the second roll call vote on Wednesday, she decided on the House floor to cast her vote “in support of Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger.” She described Granger as a “staunch conservative,” capable of “bringing forth, and passing fiscally responsible, single-subject appropriations bills.”
“However, since my vote in support of Chairwoman Granger, I have received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls. The proper authorities have been notified and my office is cooperating fully.”
“One thing I cannot stomach or support is a bully,” she continued. In a full statement, the Iowa Republican expressed the importance of being comfortable expressing a diversity of perspectives under the GOP tent:
Someone who threatens another with bodily harm or tries to suppress differing opinions undermines opportunity for unity and regard for freedom of speech. That’s why I spoke out forcefully against censorship and suppression during the COVID-19 pandemic. I did not stand for bullies before I voted for Chairwoman Granger and when I voted for Speaker designee Jordan, and I will not bend to bullies now.
I understand that voting against Rep Jordan is not popular at this time. I respected Jim enough to vote for him, knowing he did not have the votes to be elected. We have had numerous calls to all our offices, and many have urged that I support Jim Jordan and many others urged me to look for a conservative consensus candidate.
On Thursday, Jordan declined to hold a third vote for speaker, suspending his candidacy.
For the time being, at least.
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