US House Speaker prepares for another “headache” with Ukraine aid

Returning to Capitol Hill after the Easter break, US House Speaker Mike Johnson will work with the remaining members of the US House of Representatives on April 9, with a "mountain of work" waiting, including nothing but "headaches".

Not only is there a long list of pending and controversial priorities on Mr. Johnson’s agenda, from warrantless foreign surveillance to aid to Ukraine, but the threat of having to leave his post as Speaker of the House of Representatives hangs over his head.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's discontent with Johnson had been simmering for some time. It came to a head after the House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year. Since Johnson's fellow Republicans largely opposed the deal, it passed with overwhelming Democratic support.

Ms. Greene and several other hard-line conservative House members accused Mr. Johnson of betraying them and siding with the Democrats. Before Congress went into a two-week recess, the Georgia representative filed a motion to impeach him, which would have required a vote to oust Mr. Johnson.

The congresswoman has not yet forced the motion to come to a vote immediately, but it is being seen as a “warning” to Mr. Johnson. It is not yet clear how many Republicans in the House will support the removal of the speaker.

However, given the slim majority that the Republicans hold, just a few “nods” from the House of Representatives could see Johnson eliminated, unless he is “rescued” by the Democrats. And this is not a sure thing either.

Last week, Mr. Johnson signaled a vote on additional aid to Ukraine amid Ms. Greene’s strong warning against striking another deal with Democrats to get the package through the U.S. House of Representatives.

If Ms. Greene goes any further, it risks re-igniting another protracted battle for the position of Speaker of the House, less than six months after Mr. Johnson took over the gavel from his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy .

Minh Duc (According to Bloomberg, AP)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/chu-tich-ha-vien-my-lai-chuan-bi-dau-dau-voi-vien-tro-ukraine-a658214.html