Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) criticized fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after she sent a letter to colleagues about her complaints about Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Lawler appeared on CNN’s Jake Tapper on Tuesday to talk about the letter, which he referred to as “a bunch of hogwash.”
“I mean, ultimately, the American people elected a House Republican majority to govern, to act as a check and balance on the Biden administration, not to argue among ourselves,” Lawler stated.
Earlier on Tuesday, Greene sent a five-page letter to GOP members outlining a list of issues she has with Johnson. She has threatened to push for a vote to remove Johnson from his leadership position, just months after the House removed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in a historic vote that left the lower chamber in disarray without leadership for weeks.
Greene criticized Johnson for “serving the Democrats” and criticized his handling of government funding, including aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. She argued that Johnson is not properly representing the Republican Party and said she will not tolerate this kind of leadership.
Lawler said it’s “mind-boggling” that after eight far-right members “teamed up with 208 Democrats” to remove McCarthy “and throw our majority into disarray” Greene is threatening a motion to vacate, causing the party to face a similar situation.
“To say that Mike Johnson is not a conservative,” Lawler said of Greene’s letter, “I would hate to know what she thinks of me then.”
“Because, you know, obviously, I’m representing a district that Joe Biden won by 10 points, right, that’s home to Bill and Hillary Clinton and George Soros,” he continued. “Mike Johnson is in one of the most conservative districts in the country.”
Lawler pointed to several issues, including immigration and the southern border, the affordability crisis, and the Israel-Hamas border, where Republicans are clashing most with Democrats.
“Meanwhile, you know, we have Marjorie Taylor Greene now trying to make this all about a motion to vacate,” he said. “We have to work together, we have to get the agenda the American people [want] passed, and that includes supporting our allies.”
