The Oklahoma Republican Party (OKGOP) is disavowing a censure resolution against Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) over his participation in bipartisan talks for a deal coupling border security reforms with aid for U.S. allies, such as Ukraine and Israel.
Not all members of the State Committee received “proper notice” for an “illegitimate” meeting on Saturday where the panel voted to condemn Lankford, the OKGOP said in a statement on Monday.
“None of the actions done at the meeting are the official position of the OKGOP,” the statement continued, adding that the media was advised to refrain from reporting that passage of the resolution was an “official action” of the party.
The OK GOP issues a statement saying Saturday’s meeting, in which a group of Republicans passed a resolution condemning U.S. Sen. James Lankford, was illegitimate. “None of the actions … are the official position of the OKGOP.”
Background -> https://t.co/gtk9Sx7W0U pic.twitter.com/pjiJTAf5I5
— Carmen Forman (@CarmenMForman) January 29, 2024
OKGOP Vice Chairman Wayne Hill announced in a release on Saturday that the State Committee approved the resolution that condemns and censures Lankford over his negotiations with Democrats.
The resolution called on Lankford to “cease and desist jeopardizing the security and liberty of the people of Oklahoma and of these United States” and declared the party would refrain from supporting the lawmaker until he backed off.
Press release from the @officialOKGOP on the Resolution on the Senate Border Deal. https://t.co/L7Mx1FgFxr
— Dusty Deevers (@DustyDeevers) January 28, 2024
“Today’s meeting was attended by 172 active Republicans from all across Oklahoma. The 124 voting members of the State Committee resoundingly approved this resolution and others as their first official act of the 2024 election year,” the release said.
One purported detail of the not-yet-released deal mentioned in the resolution involved allowing 5,000 illegal immigrants a day to enter and work in the United States.
News: The OKGOP passed a resolution saying they “condemn” JAMES LANKFORD and his work on bipartisan border security package and until he stops they don’t support him
“Until Senator Lankford ceases from these actions the Oklahoma Republican Party will cease all support for him.” pic.twitter.com/93a9cBlxab
— Reese Gorman (@reesejgorman) January 27, 2024
During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Lankford pushed back on “internet rumors,” saying it would be “absolutely absurd for me to agree to 5,000 people a day” and contending the section in question is designed to shut down the border if there is a “rush of people” approaching.
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Some critics of the talks have discouraged compromise. Former President Donald Trump, who is the frontrunner in the 2024 GOP presidential contest, said on Truth Social he opposed the deal “unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION.”
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., fired back at Lankford in response to the lawmaker suggesting Republicans are flipping on support for U.S. allies and border security because it is a presidential election year.
“This is total BS from this RINO,” Trump Jr. said in a post to X. “Lankford is cutting a deal with Dems to fund [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy with billions, while giving a mass amnesty to illegals. That’s why we oppose his shitty deal. Anyone who supports it deserves a primary. Why is it so hard to just secure the damn border???”