US House Democrats offer to protect Republican Johnson for Ukraine aid

23/3/2024 6:29

        Democrats, who helped Republican hardliners oust Kevin McCarthy as U.S. House of Representatives speaker last year, said on Friday that they could protect Speaker Mike Johnson from a similar fate if he allowed a vote on stalled aid to Ukraine.
        
        Comments to that effect from several House Democrats followed a decision by Republican firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene to file a motion seeking Johnson's ouster over a $1.2 trillion bipartisan spending bill needed to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight.
        
        Without offering evidence, the Georgia Republican said she has support from other Republicans. Some hardliners have already made noises about ousting Johnson, if he moved a stalled $95 billion Senate bill to aid Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
        
        Johnson has refused to allow a floor vote on the bill, but has promised to address Ukraine aid when lawmakers return from a two-week break in April.