Festering tensions within the right flank of the GOP came to a head earlier this week when two of its most prominent members got into a profanity-laced exchange on the House floor during votes. Now, some lawmakers in the House Freedom Caucus are considering reshaping their ranks.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), a member of the Freedom Caucus, said talks were underway about whether the group should oust certain lawmakers who no longer match the standards or stances of the caucus. It’s not entirely clear what would disqualify a member, but discussions would likely focus on certain lawmakers considered to be inactive participants.
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“At the proper time, it will be out in the public,” Norman said on Friday. “I'm not telling you when, I'm not telling you what's being said. [The decisions] will be out in the public.”
Norman declined to comment further on which members may be getting the boot. Other caucus members, such as Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), also declined to comment, calling the situation an “internal matter.”
“I'm not going to get into that one right now,” he said.
However, reports emerged Friday morning that some lawmakers may be eyeing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who has aligned herself with House GOP leadership and become a close ally of Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Such an ouster could be a polarizing move, as Greene has positioned herself as one of the caucus’s most outspoken members.
Greene’s firebrand personality came in full view earlier this week when she collided with Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) on the House floor, calling the Colorado Republican a “little b****.” The comments came after Boebert introduced a privileged resolution to force an impeachment vote on President Joe Biden, undercutting similar efforts introduced by Greene just last month.
Greene denied being involved in talks that would see her being removed from the Freedom Caucus ranks, telling the Washington Examiner: “I haven't heard from the chairman and I haven't heard from anyone.”
Even if talks were to take place, Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) said he wouldn’t entertain the idea, telling Politico he declined requests he received from members.
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It's not entirely clear which members were recommended for removal, but the discussions come as the caucus has grown its numbers in recent weeks by adding Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and Eric Burlison (R-MO) to its ranks earlier this month.
It's unknown how many official members belong to the caucus, as it does not publicly disclose its membership. However, it's estimated they make up about one-fifth of the full GOP caucus based on voting record analyses and those who have publicly identified themselves as being part of the group.