Representative Andy Harris (R-MD), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, informed Politico on Thursday that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) had been expelled from the caucus. Harris stated that a vote took place due to Greene’s actions, and it resulted in her removal from the House Freedom Caucus. He confirmed that the vote was successful, and therefore, Greene is no longer a part of the group, to the best of his knowledge.
According to Representative Harris, the decision to remove Greene from the caucus was mainly influenced by her treatment of Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO), a fellow caucus member. Harris expressed that Greene’s derogatory language towards another member, particularly a female colleague, did not align with the expected conduct among caucus members.
Specifically, Greene reportedly referred to Boebert as a “little bitch” during a heated argument. Harris acknowledged that while the disrespectful incident with Boebert played a significant role, he did not deny the possibility of other factors contributing to Greene’s removal from the caucus.
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's alliance with Kevin McCarthy is coming with immediate benefits.
— NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) January 17, 2023
The House Republican Steering Committee, which handles committee assignments, is recommending Greene join the Homeland Security committee. https://t.co/Y2mECY8TcC
Representative Harris indicated that multiple factors contributed to Greene’s departure from the caucus, including her support for the debt deal agreement between McCarthy and Biden. He stated that all of these factors were significant. However, Harris emphasized that publicly making derogatory remarks about another member was the final tipping point. He likened it to the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back.” As a result of her removal from the caucus, Greene will no longer have the privilege of attending its meetings.
The House Freedom Caucus strongly opposed the debt deal negotiated between the Speaker and the President, considering it a significant struggle. One caucus member went as far as calling the deal “insanity.” Despite their objections, the deal ultimately passed both the House and the Senate. Representative Greene, during that time, expressed her views on the agreement, acknowledging its imperfections but highlighting the spending cuts and cost savings it achieved for the American people. She ultimately voted in favor of the deal.
NPR Politics observed that Greene’s decision to break ranks with her faction and support House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had immediate benefits. As a result, she received a recommendation to join the Homeland Security committee.
The recent vote in the House Freedom Caucus holds historic significance, as Business Insider reports that it marks the first formal expulsion of a member from the faction. Previously, former Representative Justin Amash (R-MI), one of the group’s co-founders, chose to resign after his strong criticism of former President Trump during the initial impeachment proceedings.
The impact and consequences of this vote on the wider American electorate and in the realm of American politics remain to be seen. The future of the House Freedom Caucus and the fortunes of Marjorie Taylor Greene will greatly influence the outcome and how this event is remembered in the long run.
