McCarthy defends Jordan after he loses on first round of votes for speaker
From CNN's Manu Raju and Kristin Wilson
Former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters as he leaves the House chamber after Republicans failed in their first attempt to elect Rep. Jim Jordan to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.
Former Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters as he leaves the House chamber after Republicans failed in their first attempt to elect Rep. Jim Jordan to be the new House speaker, at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan after Jordan lost the first round of votes for the speakership, saying Jordan βhas just as many votes as I had on the first round.β
βThe difference here is we have rules and we can sit down and talk to the other members and be able to move forward,β he said, brushing away claims by Jordan allies that he was in striking distance when 20 Republicans voted against him. βWhat I saw was the exact same vote I got when I ran and I became speaker.β
McCarthy said that unlike in January, the chamber can pause to allow discussions to happen between members.
βNow we have rules. We donβt have to be stuck on the floor,β he said, and blamed βevery single Democratβ who he said βvoted to stop one branch of government.β
βWeβll go sit down, weβll talk to those who have a difference of opinion and come back,β he said.