DES MOINES, Iowa — The lone Iowa congressperson to vote against Jim Jordan in Wednesday's House speaker vote has received "credible death threats" following the tally, according to a statement from Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa's 1st District, favored Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger in the Wednesday vote — which contributed to yet another failed vote.
Miller-Meeks said she knew that Jim Jordan would not garner the necessary votes to become speaker, leading her to move on and vote for Granger because "she has demonstrated great leadership this year".
Now, Miller-Meeks said she's received death threats for splitting the vote.
Her statement reads in part:
"However, since my vote in support of Chairwoman Granger, I have received credible death threats and a barrage of threatening calls. The proper authorities have been notified and my office is cooperating fully. ... Someone who threatens another with bodily harm or tries to suppress differing opinions undermines opportunity for unity and regard for freedom of speech."
Miller-Meeks was far from the only person to oppose Jordan, with 22 Republicans in total voting against him — two more than in Tuesday's failed vote, when Miller-Meeks supported him.
"We’ll keep talking to members, keep working on it,” Jordan, a founding member of the hard-right Freedom Caucus, said after the vote.