Rep. Don Bacon recently spoke out about the possibility that Speaker Mike Johnson could face a vote to oust him if he moves to pass Ukraine aid in the House. Bacon warned that there are a few members who are not team players and could potentially make the Republican party a minority with their actions. Despite this, Bacon highlighted his partnership with other representatives on a Ukraine aid bill that focuses on military aid for various countries, emphasizing the importance of a bipartisan solution.
Bacon expressed his hope that Speaker Johnson would prevail in his efforts and suggested that Democrats could potentially assist in saving Johnson’s speakership. He mentioned that there may be Democrats who do not want to see dysfunction within the party and could vote present or not be present for a vote on potentially ousting Johnson. The possibility of Ukraine aid being brought up for a vote in the House could pose a risk to Johnson’s speakership due to divisions within the Republican conference and the party’s narrow majority.
Before the House went on a two-week recess, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene submitted a motion to vacate that could lead to a House vote to remove Johnson as speaker. Greene had warned against bringing funding for Ukraine to the floor, adding to the contentious nature of the debate within the Republican party. Another issue causing division within House Republicans is the ongoing House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden led by House Oversight Chair James Comer. Bacon suggested that the investigation may not have uncovered criminal wrongdoing despite recent actions taken by Comer to prepare criminal referrals.
While Bacon acknowledged that the allegations against President Biden merited investigation, he also indicated that the inquiry may be nearing its conclusion. He stressed the importance of transparency, especially during an election year, in allowing the public to assess the facts. Bacon’s comments about the investigation potentially wrapping up come in contrast to previous statements by House Oversight Committee staff about criminal violations being addressed at the end of the investigation. The White House has denied any wrongdoing by Biden in relation to the House Republican probe, labeling their efforts as a “path of failure” in December.
Overall, the discussion surrounding Ukraine aid and the House impeachment inquiry has brought division within the House Republican conference. The potential for a vote to oust Speaker Johnson highlights the internal challenges facing the party. Representative Bacon’s comments underscore the complexity of navigating these contentious issues while striving for unity and bipartisan cooperation in addressing key matters such as military aid and potential wrongdoing. The outcome of these debates and investigations could have significant implications for the future direction of the House Republican party.
