A House Republican said on Wednesday that she has received death threats after flipping against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for speaker.
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), who made the announcement, voted for House Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) in the second ballot after backing Jordan in the first one on Tuesday.
“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,” Miller-Meeks said in a statement. “One thing I cannot stomach, or support is a bully.”
“Someone who threatens another with bodily harm or tries to suppress differing opinions undermines opportunity for unity and regard for freedom of speech,” Miller-Meeks added. “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.”
Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, released a statement on X condemning threats against fellow members of the House.
“No American should accost another for their beliefs,” Jordan said. “We condemn all threats against our colleagues and it is imperative that we come together. Stop. It’s abhorrent.”
A spokesperson for Jordan also told reporters in response to the threats against Miller-Meeks, “This is abhorrent and has no place in civil discourse. No one should receive threats and it needs to stop. We have condemned these actions repeatedly. It is important that Republicans stop attacking each other and come together.”
Miller-Meeks said she voted for Jordan in the first ballot because she “respected Jim enough to vote for him, knowing he did not have the votes to be elected.” In the second ballot, Miller-Meeks said, she picked Granger “because she has demonstrated great leadership this year by bringing forth, and passing, fiscally responsible, single-subject appropriations bills and is a staunch conservative.”
So far, no one has been able to win the requisite majority to secure the speakership. Jordan has indicated that he plans to stay in the House speaker race after two defeats in which at least 20 Republicans opposed his bid. A third vote could happen as early as Wednesday.
Miller-Meeks said her offices have received calls from people urging her to support Jordan and others telling her to “look for a conservative consensus candidate.” The congresswoman concluded by calling on the GOP to rally around a “consensus candidate so we can get back to the work forwarding appropriations, supporting Israel, and stopping the insane policies of the Biden Administration.”