Republicans are starting to circle the wagons against a brazenly hypocritical effort by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to unseat one of their freshman colleagues.
Pelosi said recently that there is “of course” a possibility that Democrats will try to unseat Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa, who has served in the House since January after her win — by just six votes — was certified, according to Fox News. Democrat Rita Hart has challenged Miller-Meeks’ victory, saying that 22 votes were wrongly tossed out.
Now, the Washington Examiner reports that House Republicans and party leaders like Mitch McConnell (R-KY) are rushing to protect the freshman congresswoman from being booted from the House.
Miller-Meeks is settled in Washington
Republicans have reportedly been seeking to highlight that Miller-Meeks, who serves on a number of committees, is settled in Washington and already working for her constituents. She recently made waves with a bill to require undocumented migrants to receive COVID-19 tests, the Examiner noted.
Of course, Republicans are also eager to point out the rank partisanship of attempting to unseat her, especially after Democrats complained about Trump’s 2020 election challenges, which they essentially compared to treason.
Miller-Meeks’ opponent did not go to court, leaving a House committee controlled by Democrats, the House Administration Committee, to handle the controversy, according to reports.
Senate Minority Leader McConnell recently weighed in on the burgeoning fight with a scorching statement accusing Democrats of hypocrisy for trying to “overturn” the race.
Miller-Meeks also received high praises from Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL), the ranking Republican on the House Administration Committee, who told the Examiner that she “has become one of the most judicious and also the most active members of her freshman class.”
Rank partisanship infects Dems
To be sure, a handful of Democrats have said they are against removing Miller-Meeks, including Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN).
But snatching the seat would be a welcome advantage for Pelosi after her majority shrunk significantly this November.
Still, Republicans are warning Democrats against any rash moves that would further damage an already divided Congress. Davis, for his part, told the Washington Examiner that a partisan “charge to expel an already active sworn-in member of Congress, who many of them are working with right now,” would erode “any last bastion of bipartisanship.”
There have also been partisan calls from Democrats to expel conservative firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) from Congress, but Pelosi is not supporting that push, despite backing her removal from committees, as Fox News reports.
The post Republicans push back on talk of ousting Miller-Meeks from Congress: Report first appeared on Conservative Institute.
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