Freedom Caucus pushes McCarthy to remove Pelosi as president

Members of the House Freedom Caucus are calling on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to use procedural tactics to remove President Nancy Pelosi from her leadership position, citing his decision to block Representatives Jim Banks and Jim Jordan from the Jan.6 select committee.

In a letter sent to McCarthy (R-Calif.) On Friday, the conservative group accused Pelosi (D-Calif.) Of having “an authoritarian rule” over the lower house, arguing that his recent actions justify going out of the way. before with the vacancy of the chair.

“We, the House Freedom Caucus, respectfully request that you seek permission from the House Republican Conference, in accordance with the rules of the Conference, to table and present a privileged motion by July 31, 2021, to step down from the presidency and end the authoritarian reign of Nancy Pelosi. as Speaker of the House, ”they wrote.

“Rule IX, Article 3 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives for the One hundred and seventeenth Congress requires that a resolution causing a vacancy in the office of President shall not be privileged, unless it is proposed by order of a caucus. or a party conference. “”

Republicans have sharply criticized Pelosi’s rejection of Banks (R-Ind.) And Jordan (R-Ohio), two of former President Donald Trump’s most powerful allies in Congress, alleging that this proves the panel is politically motivated. Pelosi announced Wednesday the ousting of McCarthy’s two picks for the committee – which is charged with investigating the deadly siege of the Capitol when pro-Trump rioters tried to disrupt the certification of the election – on Wednesday.

Banks was McCarthy’s choice to be the top Republican on the panel as a ranking member.

The committee – led by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona) – also highlighted Pelosi’s decision to expand the proxy voting initially put in place at the start of the pandemic and to require members to scan magnetometers before d ‘to enter the room as examples of what they feel that it is about abuse of being able.

“President Pelosi’s tenure destroys the House of Representatives and our ability to faithfully represent the people we are here to serve. President Pelosi has defended unconstitutional changes such as allowing proxy voting and insulting security measures like metal detectors for MPs who come to vote, ”the letter said.

“The damage done to the institution by the leadership of one party dictating the ability of members of another party to fill roles at the discretion of their own conference is less easily reversible. This abuse cannot go unchecked. President Pelosi’s refusal to sit Representative Jim Jordan and Representative Jim Banks on the select committee of inquiry on January 6 is intolerable.

Lawmakers also pointed out that Democrats voted to remove controversial GOP representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) From her committee duties after a series of inflammatory social media posts emerged before she not to Congress.

“That this follows the intolerable move to topple another Republican on her committees makes it clear that President Pelosi has no interest in representative democracy, let alone protecting institutional standards. Republicans, under your leadership, must show the American people that we will act to protect our ability to represent their interests, ”they continued.

If McCarthy chooses to move forward by forcing the Pelosi vote, he will find himself facing an almost impossible path to the transition to the Democrat-controlled lower house. But the California Republican could feel pressure to act, with the House Freedom Caucus providing a pivot block of votes needed to secure the president’s gavel if Republicans return to the House halfway through.