Speaker 1 (00:01):
This morning, Republicans in the House are projecting unity after selecting Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson as their nominee for House Speaker.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
We are going to move this quickly. This group here is ready to govern.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Johnson, getting 128 votes, but 44 Republicans voted for others, including Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from the job three weeks ago, McCarthy late yesterday floating a plan in which he would return as speaker with Jim Jordan as assistant speaker. That came after Congressman Tom Emmer dropped out of the race yesterday, just four hours after being nominated, Emmer withdrawing after former President Trump came out against him. Emmer, no fan of Trump loyalists, voted to certify the 2020 election results for Joe Biden. Politico reports, after Emmer withdrew, Trump was quoted saying, “He’s done. It’s over. I killed him.”
(00:54)
ABC’s Rachel Scott tried to ask the new nominee, Mike Johnson, if he still stands by his vote to overturn the 2020 election results. Johnson supporters, including Congresswoman Virginia Fox, telling Rachel to shut up. Earlier, one lawmaker appeared to be stunned by all the chaos.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We are hopelessly divided. We are struggling to find our way. To continue to go through this exercise is, I think, an existential threat to the constitutional republic.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Now, the full house is expected to vote on Johnson’s nomination today, but it’s unclear if he has enough votes to be elected on the House floor.