House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-PA) on Friday morning downplayed the threats toward Republican members opposing Speaker Designate Jim Jordan (R-OH) and their families.
A number of the Jordan holdouts have said they have received death threats, their spouses have received intimidating messages, and some have had it affect their personal business.
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In part, Rep. Marinette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) has said she has received “credible death threats,” Rep. Don Bacon’s (R-NE) wife received intimidating text messages, and an unnamed lawmaker’s wife received a threatening voicemail.
The landlord for one of Rep. Ken Buck’s (R-CO) offices is terminating his lease after he voted against Jordan, a spokesperson for Buck confirmed. The Colorado Republican has also said he has received four death threats.
But after a Jordan press conference ahead of the third speaker vote, Perry called all these threats a “red herring.”
“All of us in Congress receive death threats,” Perry said. “I don't know if that's a newsflash for anybody here. There are people out in the world that dislike us and threaten us. That's nothing new. It's nothing new to any member of Congress. We all know it. That is another red herring.”
He then compared the death threats to pressure from lobbyist members of Congress received during January when they were opposing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).
“They didn't seem to mind. No one in this town seemed to mind the pressure campaign from all the lobbyists and the special interest in Washington, D.C., in January,” Perry said. “But suddenly now they mind all the calls, and the emails and the texts and the letters, and the visits from their own constituents.”
Perry's comments likely won't land well with Jordan's opponents or his supporters, all of whom have been urging his allies to tone down the rhetoric for the sake of member's safety.
"Any lobbyist threaten to rape a member’s wife? I don’t think so," a Jordan supporter said in response to Perry's comments.
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Perry continued by saying that while the threats should be taken seriously, Jordan has nothing to do with them. Over the course of the past week, Jordan has vehemently condemned the threats and intimidation tactics used toward members.
“We have repeatedly condemned and denounced any threats, and those threats should stop,” a Jordan spokesperson said.