House Democrats aim to punish lawmaker Greene

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The U.S. House of Representatives will vote on Thursday on a resolution to remove controversial Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments, in light of her support of calls for violence against Democrats and unfounded conspiracy theories.

House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer announced the decision on Twitter Wednesday, saying "there is no alternative to holding a Floor vote" after it became clear that Republicans were not going to take action against Greene.

At a news conference Wednesday, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy still had time to act or Thursday's vote would go ahead.

JEFFRIES: "Kevin McCarthy should handle this problem because Marjorie Taylor Greene is totally out of control as a QAnon caucus leader, sympathizer, and someone who has denied that mass shootings, where children were massacred, has taken place, uh, as well as promoted and apparently embraced efforts by some to facilitate violence against our legislative leaders. And, so, it seems to me that the best thing that could happen at this moment is for Kevin McCarthy to make clear that she should not be on the education and labor committee. If he doesn't make that decision, I think as the Speaker and Steny Hoyer have indicated, we'll be prepared to move forward. But let's cross that bridge when we get to it."

Later on Wednesday, McCarthy said in a statement that he condemned Greene's comments unequivocally, but stopped short of proposing any action against her.

Greene, who is a political newcomer and outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, has not only come under fire from Democrats, but also from Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who earlier this week warned against "loony lies and conspiracy theories" that he said "are a cancer for the Republican Party and our country."

McCarthy and his fellow House Republicans were scheduled to hold a private meeting later on Wednesday to discuss what to do with their new Republican colleague but also party establishment lawmaker Liz Cheney, who last month voted to impeach Trump.

If Republicans choose to strip Cheney of her role as the No. 3 Republican leader in the House or remove Greene from her committee seats, it would send a powerful message about the party's future and, potentially, Trump's role within it.