In a recent interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Texas Representative Dan Crenshaw (R) answered questions about the future Speaker of the House.
In response to Tapper asking him about the possibility of former speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R) returning to the position or speaker pro tempore Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) remaining in office, Rep. Crenshaw gave his thoughts on the probability of those situations.
“Anything’s possible. These are very unlikely. McCarthy has to actually want to run. Out of protest, some members will vote for McCarthy, but he has no intention of running.”
Rep. Crenshaw defended Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) stating that his reputation has changed, presumably for the better, in his opinion, over time. Furthermore, Crenshaw stated that he was friends with Rep. Jordan.
“Jordan has been a true ally to McCarthy, at least from everything I’ve seen and from what McCarthy is saying now. And, what I would remind a lot of the members who are against Jordan—because his reputation precedes him, but his reputation has changed over time—he has become part of the solution, not part of the problem. He has long since been part of the solution. I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him. I’ve gotten to know him. There’s a reason I support him.”
The Texas representative stated that giving Rep. McHenry more power would not be the desire of the speaker pro tempore or the rest of the House of Representatives.
“Giving McHenry additional powers, that still requires a vote. What kind of powers? I mean at a certain point, you’re just electing a new speaker. So, he doesn’t want that. He’s asking us not to do that.”
Tapper chimed in, stating that Rep. Jordan had defied the congressional subpoena and tried to get former vice president Mike Pence (R) to overturn the electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.
In response, Crenshaw stated that the viewpoint was common amongst his Republican peers.
“But a lot of them did that. If I held that grudge, I wouldn’t have friends in the Republican conference,” said Crenshaw.
