Ousted congressman Madison Cawthorn claims House Republicans supporting Kevin McCarthy’s bid to be House Speaker are using dirty tactics to get their way.
“They are facing intense pressure,” Cawthorn said of Republican representatives opposing McCarthy’s speakership. “Keep them in your prayers.”
Cawthorn — who famously alleged in March that prominent lawmakers invited him to cocaine-fueled orgies in Washington D.C. — made his claims Friday during an interview on former President Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon’s daily podcast.
“Make no mistake, there are incredible threats being levied at them,” the famously fact-challenged conservative said without examples or evidence.
Throughout the week, nearly two-dozen Republican lawmakers dug in against the senior congressman from California, though McCarthy managed to win most of them over Friday afternoon and seemed headed toward getting the votes he needs.
Cawthorn insisted McCarthy’s allies would do almost anything to drum-up more ballots for the 57-year-old House leader.
“They might be going after family members in their work place,” Cawthorn said. “This is a very serious task they’re undertaking.”
Cawthorn’s single-term as a congressman from North Carolina was filled with embarrassing moments, highlighted by his claim on a different right-wing podcast that he’d been invited to “a sexual get-together” with legislators he respects.
“Then you realize they’re asking you to come to an orgy,” he claimed.
As pressure mounted for Cawthorn to name GOP operatives partaking in such activities, McCarthy met with the then 26-year-old representative, whom he said had “no evidence” to support his wild story.
“He did not tell the truth (and) that’s unacceptable,” McCarthy said in March. “I just told him he’s lost my trust. He’s going to have to earn it back.”
McCarthy failed to get enough support to be elected House speaker during 13 votes held Tuesday through Friday afternoon.
A 14th vote was scheduled for 10 p.m. Eastern time Friday. It’s been 100 years since a party’s House speaker needed more than a single vote count to assume the office.
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