Last week we heard about a Republican who threatened McCarthy opponents behind closed doors at a conference meeting.
The threat was from Rep. Mike Rogers and it had to do with him promising to block these anti-McCarthy Republicans from getting on committees.
Here’s a few tweets on this from January 3rd:
!!! Rep. Mike Rogers says anyone that votes against McCarthy doesn’t get a committee, source in room tells me
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 3, 2023
ROGERS warned after meeting that the Steering Committee will block opponents from getting Committee seats held, adding that it wasn’t a “threat. It’s a promise.”
“This will not be forgotten,” he said about Republicans who oppose McCarthy
per @jordainc
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 3, 2023
👀 Rogers stood by this after the meeting and signaled he's got the votes on the Steering Committee to make good on it.
"I promised it. …This will not be forgotten" https://t.co/jahZdW1sj8
— Jordain Carney (@jordainc) January 3, 2023
Mike Rogers said he was speaking for himself in the GOP meeting when he threatened Rs who oppose McCarthy won't get committees, but adds:
"I said, 'I'm on the Steering committee. I know how the Steering Committee room works.' And that's the way it works."
— Connor O'Brien (@connorobrienNH) January 3, 2023
It’s also worth noting that Rogers is the one who had to be restrained on Saturday night after he lunged at Matt Gaetz on the House floor.
Temper Temper.
We all know what happened this weekend, that McCarthy ended up making deals with these opponents and getting most of them on his side. And then late Saturday night, McCarthy became Speaker.
Fast forward to this morning and suddenly Mike Rogers is announcing he’s off the powerful Steering Committee:
NEWS: Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) will be stepping down from serving on House GOP Steering, two members tell me.
He confirmed it with me this AM and said it will happen later this week. The region members will have to elect a new representative.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 9, 2023
He says he is doing this on his own accord, no one is encouraging him to take this step.
But he said also caveated there is the chance he could change his mind.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) January 9, 2023
He may be doing this of his own accord, but I have a strong feeling that he’s had serious discussions with McCarthy and those around him that he needs to step down after the threat/promise he made last week and the anger he showed on the House floor this weekend.
McCarthy brought his opponents into the fold and holding this type of anger against these 20 Republicans really has no place on the committee now.
Whatever happened, it’s a good thing he’s gone from the committee. Otherwise I suspect Chip Roy and gang would hold McCarthy responsible if he was allowing his will to be usurped by Rogers.