Massie Joins Greene in Johnson Ouster Effort
WASHINGTON — Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said Tuesday that he will co-sponsor a resolution to remove Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., as House speaker.
Massie announced his intention during a closed-door conference meeting with his Republican colleagues early Tuesday morning.
During that meeting, he said he plans to co-sponsor the motion to vacate filed last month by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. In doing so, he became the first member of the GOP conference to publicly endorse Greene’s effort.
Minutes later, Massie reiterated his position in a post on the X social media platform.
“I just told Mike Johnson in conference that I’m co-sponsoring the motion to vacate that was introduced by @RepMTG,” Massie said.
“He should pre-announce his resignation (as Boehner did), so we can pick a new speaker without ever being without a GOP speaker,” the congressman added.
Johnson refused to step down.
Massie responded by telling the speaker “he is the only one who can prevent us from going through what happened last fall.”
Later, during his weekly briefing with reporters, Johnson repeated, “I am not resigning.”
“And it is in my view an absurd notion that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our jobs.”
Later he observed that Greene’s motion “is not helpful to the country.
“It does not help the House Republicans advance our agenda which is in the best interest of the American people here: a secure border, sound governance, and it’s not helpful to the unity that we have in the body,” Johnson said.
Meanwhile, some Democrats are already lining up to save Johnson’s job.
They include Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., who told CNN’s Manu Raju this morning that he wouldn’t hesitate to vote for Johnson if Rep. Greene advances her motion to oust him.
“Democrats don’t even let her rename post offices, I’m not going to let her make a motion to vacate,” Moskowitz said.
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