House Republican: Jim Jordan team 'harassing our spouses'
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska), one of the 20 House Republicans who voted against Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on the first ballot for new House speaker is now accusing him of sending harassing messages to his wife.
According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by NBC News producer Kyle Griffin, Rep. Bacon said his wife "received anonymous messages" warning the Nebraska Republican that he would be ousted from his seat if he refuses to back Jordan's bid for Speaker of the House.
"Your husband will not hold any political office ever again. Your husband will not hold any political office ever again. What a disappoint [sic] and failure he is," read one of the messages.
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"Why is your husband causing chaos by not supporting Jim Jordan?" Another message read. "I thought he was a team player."
After relaying the anonymous messages to NBC News, Rep. Bacon added that "Jordan is headed for defeat."
"He'll fight to death likely, and we won't let off. Their tactics angered us. They're harassing our spouses even. Jordan hit a brick wall," Bacon said.
This isn't the first time Jordan has allegedly used a third party to pressure holdouts. On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that Fox News primetime host Sean Hannity personally called members of Congress opposed to Jordan's candidacy over the weekend. One of Hannity's producers also sent emails to Republican holdouts pressuring them to back Jordan.
READ MORE: Doesn’t look like' Jordan will become speaker — here’s how Dems may help end GOP 'civil war'
Hannity further antagonized Republican holdouts on his Monday night show, referring to them as the "few sensitive little snowflakes in Congress" that were still not sold on the Ohio Republican's bid.
In addition to Bacon, 19 other Republicans voted for candidates other than Jordan on the first ballot Tuesday afternoon. The anti-Jordan bloc wasn't united in their choice for speaker, with some voting for ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California), and others in favor of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana). Others receiving votes included House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota) and Reps. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma), Mike Garcia (R-California), Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), as well as former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-New York). McCarthy, for his part, had 19 Republicans opposed to his candidacy before eventually winning over the 217 votes required to become speaker after 15 ballots.
READ MORE: 'Contemptible': GOP strategist slams 'cowardly' Republicans for allowing speakership chaos
