Jeffries slams Jordan as a ‘clear and present danger’ to democracy as speaker fight drags on

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) labeled Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) a “clear and present danger” to democracy on Friday before the Republican went on to lose another round of votes for the speakership.

Jeffries told a group of reporters outside the Capitol building that Jordan was dangerous because Jordan says he believes President Joe Biden did not truthfully win the presidential election in 2020.

SPEAKER VOTE: THE 25 REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED NOT TO ELECT JORDAN ON HIS THIRD BALLOT

“Jim Jordan is a clear and present danger to our democracy,” Jeffries said. “He wants to end Social Security as we know it. He wants to end Medicare as we know it. Doesn’t believe that President Biden was elected in 2020. That’s disrespectful to the American people. Jim Jordan wants to impose a nationwide abortion ban, and he is the poster child for MAGA extremism.”

Jeffries added that he was calling for his Republican colleagues to ditch Jordan and find a bipartisan way forward.

One possible solution to the speaker vacancy, which has stretched on for more than two weeks, is a temporary expansion of the powers of speaker pro tempore, which would allow him to bring legislation to the House floor for a vote. The House is facing a time crunch to pass crucial funding packages to avoid a government shutdown next month.

Jordan became the speaker nominee after a handful of Republicans forced the departure of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) earlier this month. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) was the first nominee, but he bowed out last week due to a lack of support.

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Jordan failed to secure the 214 votes needed on Friday, with 25 votes against his speakership bid. The 25 votes is higher than his first two attempts, but the Republican leader has not given any indication he will resign from the race.

“Our plan this weekend is to get a speaker elected to the House of Representatives as soon as possible so we can help the American people,” Jordan said at a press conference on Friday.