A high-ranking staffer on Capitol Hill tells National File that Freedom Caucus Rep. Jim Jordan rejected a request from Kevin McCarthy and members of the GOP establishment to swear off the speakership for himself when he nominated McCarthy on the House floor on Tuesday, but Jordan refused, indicating his receptiveness to the speakership.
National File can exclusively report, per a high-ranking, well-sourced Hill staffer, that Rep. Jim Jordan rejected a request from Kevin McCarthy and his closest supporters to publicly swear off the speakership when he stood to nominate McCarthy for the role.
Despite Jordan’s public media comments, indicating that he isn’t running for Speaker of the House and is backing Kevin McCarthy, the Freedom Caucus leadership member received 19 votes of his own after standing to nominate McCarthy.
This news blows the lid off of the corporate media narrative surrounding the speakership vote, in which hardline establishment supporters, like Fox’s Sean Hannity, have toed the line for McCarthy, and have insisted that Rep. Jordan isn’t interested in being elected speaker.
Related: Conservatives Grill Sean Hannity Over Continued McCarthy Support, Hostile Boebert Interview
As the speakership vote has progressed and Kevin McCarthy has failed time and time again to reach the 218 votes he needs to take the gavel, public discussions about alternative candidates and alleged McCarthy blackmail operations have become commonplace.
Related: Top McCarthy Henchman Threatening to Vote for Jeffries Advises Epstein-Tied CCP Influence Operation
After phony media reports indicated that McCarthy had brokered a deal to make himself Speaker, Freedom Caucus members took to Twitter Thursday morning, ahead of the third day of speakership voting, to reaffirm their opposition to McCarthy’s campaign.
Hold the line!
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) January 5, 2023
Among the top disqualifying issues that McCarthy’s opponents are pointing to, is his use of big tech FTX cash to sabotage America First campaigns, and his embrace of Nancy Pelosi’s left-wing House rules.
BREAKING: @mattgaetz just nominated President Donald Trump for Speaker of the House!!!
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 5, 2023