Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) ripped into Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s attempts to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), accusing her of going “off the deep end.”
“Moscow Marjorie has clearly gone off the deep end, maybe the result of a space laser,” Lawler told reporters Wednesday. “But this type of tantrum is absolutely unacceptable. And it does nothing to further the cause of the conservative movement.”
Lawler’s remark about a “space laser,” refers to a controversial post from Greene (R-Ga.) in 2018, when she suggested that a “laser beam or light beam” from “space solar generators,” controlled by a wealthy Jewish family, might be to blame for devastating wildfires in California.
“The only people who have stymied our ability to govern are the very people that have pulled these types of stunts throughout the course of this Congress to undermine the House Republican majority,” Lawler continued.
Lawler’s remarks followed the House’s vote Wednesday to block a conservative attempt to boot Johnson from the Speakership. The effort was spearheaded by Greene, who in a surprise Wednesday, moved to force a vote on her motion to vacate against Johnson.
In a 359-43-7 vote, the lower chamber passed a motion to table Greene’s resolution, preventing it from hitting the floor for a vote. This came as little surprise after several Republicans and Democrats suggested they would protect Johnson as Greene held the threat over him for weeks.
Greene’s motion to vacate was publicly backed by only two other Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.) — who cited Johnson’s policy decisions in recent weeks.
Lawler argued the lack of congressional action on several conservative priorities can be at least partly blamed on Greene and others who hamper the Speaker’s ability to negotiate.
“Members in our conference who have continually undermined the Speaker’s ability to negotiate … that is why if they’re so upset about the things that haven’t happened, they should take a look in the mirror, starting with Marjorie Taylor Greene,” he said.
The New York Republican was one of several GOP members to criticize Greene’s efforts. Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.) on Wednesday called the attempt a “petty political stunt.”
“Some members would rather upend Republicans’ work instead of advancing the conservative agenda. Americans sent us to Washington to govern,” Womack wrote in a post on social platform X.
Johnson on Wednesday thanked his colleagues for their support following the failed vote.
“As I’ve said from the beginning, and I’ve made clear every day, I intend to do my job. I intend to do what I believe to be the right thing, which is what I was elected to do, and I’ll let the chips fall where they may,” Johnson said. “In my view, that is leadership.”
The Hill reached out to Greene’s office for comment.
