By LISA MASCARO (AP Congressional Correspondent)
In Washington, Hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is stepping up her criticism of House Speaker Mike Johnson, denouncing his leadership in a long letter to colleagues and once again threatening a sudden vote to remove him from his position.
When lawmakers came back to work on Tuesday after a two-week spring break, the Georgia congresswoman's new attack brought the still-new speaker back into the chaos within the Republican party, which has been the defining feature of GOP House control and is causing problems with productivity. Johnson might not be able to perform the basic duties of his job.
“Today, I sent a letter to my colleagues explaining exactly why I filed a motion to vacate against Speaker Johnson,” Greene said on social media about the procedural tool that could force the quick vote.
Greene strongly warned Johnson not to work with Democrats to get votes needed to pass pending legislation that hard-right Republicans disagree with, especially the Ukraine aid. That aid package and other agenda items are now in serious doubt.
“I will not tolerate this type of Republican ‘leadership,’” wrote Greene, a top ally of presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump, in the five-page letter first reported by The New York Times.
The standoff threatens to leave the House in another deadlock, giving the Republican majority a reputation of inactivity after months of turmoil that has led some experienced lawmakers to leave their positions.
This comes at a time when Congress usually pushes through severa