A court allowed lawsuits from Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to proceed over accusations that two California cities prevented the House Republicans from speaking. The lawsuit comes as the two lawmakers have increased leverage over the future of House leadership, including a possible challenge to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
The two House Republicans are threatening to sue two cities in California after their political rallies there were canceled in 2021.
U.S. District Judge Hernan Vera ruled against motions to dismiss Gaetz and Greene’s lawsuit, writing that they had “adequately” put together enough evidence to advance the lawsuit.
The judge did dismiss an effort by the two House Republicans to accuse other advocacy groups of conspiring with the two cities.
Gaetz, Greene allowed to continue lawsuit against California cities for canceling rallies https://t.co/0wuCK10oFb
— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) March 23, 2024
Greene filed a motion to vacate against the speaker after the passage of a $1.2 trillion spending bill.
“It’s more of a warning than a pink slip,” she said. “There’s not a time limit on this, it doesn’t have to be forced… But I’m not saying that it won’t happen in two weeks, or it won’t happen.”
Greene has become increasingly critical of the speaker, saying this week that the recent omnibus bill was a “complete departure” from Republican promises to the American people. She also cited the quick timing of the vote and a departure from “everything we stand for.”
She also said that the bill had a “trans agenda” and funded the Department of Justice amid the current criminal cases against former President Donald Trump.
Greene said that she was bringing up the motion to vacate with full “sincerity.” She also said that Johnson was doing the bidding of Democrats and was not stopping the current border crisis. She cited an increase in crime following the large influx of illegal immigrants into the country over the last several years.
The Georgia Republican said that she could bring up the motion to vacate at a time of her “choosing.” She called on House GOP members to think during the current recess.
She said that Johnson was “getting rolled in every single meeting.”
