Tom Emmer accused of holding GOP caucus hostage in speaker vote

WASHINGTON — Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) told Raw Story that Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) doesn't have the votes to get elected the House speaker — and that it's time to move on and nominate Donald Trump instead.

Emmer officially became the party's nomination on Tuesday in a fifth ballot vote — but it's considered unlikely that he'll win a House vote. And GOP caucus members are expecting to be locked in a meeting until he gets the votes he wants.

Trump as a nominee was previously suggested by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) in January, during the contest that saw Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) selected. But the idea was dismissed with just a single vote in favor — from Gaetz (R-FL).

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Trump was frustrated by that embarrassing loss and said that it was due to members not knowing he was an option – so he asked Gaetz to officially nominate him and hold another vote — which resulted in Gaetz being again the only one who voted for the ex-president.

On Tuesday, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) revealed that Emmer was trying a new way of coming up with the speaker post: Holding all Republicans hostage in the caucus meeting until they agree to vote in unison. It's a tactic that neither Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) nor Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) were brave enough to attempt.

There are already 26 Republicans identified who will not vote for Emmer. That's four more than Jordan lost in his bid.

Speaking to the press, Johnson said he wouldn't talk about what was being said behind closed doors, but would agree with reports about "concerns about Tom's votes."

He said that the members won't break off into groups. "We're going to be in this room" where he said Emmer would continue to answer questions for the 200-plus members.

Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA) told reporters that if there are only minor objections, they can resolve them and take Emmer to the floor, "but that is up to the Speaker-elect," he said.

He went on to say that there is, "more than four who are not stating Tom Emmer's name first" in the roll-call vote in the caucus. "At this moment. In half an hour that could change."

While Meuser considers himself a conservative, he said he might have disagreements with Emmer – but he didn't "want to make perfect the enemy of good."

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) quipped, "Hopefully, there'll be bed rolls, cinnamon rolls, and coffee for the morning."

Nehls went on to say that the vote wasn't a "secret ballot," that it was clear where folks stood because they publicly announced their vote.

CNN's Melanie Zanona explained that behind close doors, Donald Trump's allies are urging votes against Emmer.

One source told her they’re “whipping hard," and at least one member has pulled their support.

Trump then posted a status update on his social media site attacking Emmer and calling him a RINO who "never respected the Power of a Trump Endorsement."