Scalise speakership sabotaged by claims he spent thousands on DC dinners: report

With the Speaker's gavel within finger's reach, it's being reported that allies of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) are attempting to scuttle the ascendance of Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) by reportedly spreading unflattering FEC documents loaded with pork that paint the pol as a creature of the proverbial "Washington swamp."

"Jordan allies, in a bid to cripple Scalise's speaker candidacy, are sending around FEC docs that show Scalise has spent more than $500,000 through his congressional campaign account at DC's Capital Grille since 2011," tweeted Time Magazine's Eric Cortellessa.

"That's a lot on steak and lobbyists," one says, according to the writer.

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Cortellessa's thread continued: "They are saying it reveals Scalise to be a creature of the "Washington swamp" and establishment—another sign that Republicans are not ready to corral around a single candidate.

"Some are preparing for a lengthy and bitter fight."

The suspected subterfuge comes as Scalise narrowly beat out Jordan 113-99 in a secret ballot on Wednesday (below the 217 needed) edging him closer to notch the party's nominee for speaker left vacant ever since Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was ousted from the perch by eight Republicans and all House Democrats after Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate the speaker position.

The effort to potentially hit the brakes on Scalise taking over for McCarthy comes after news of a trio of lawmakers loyal to McCarthy were conspiring against Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) as he vies to fill the vacancy, according to Axios.

One unflappable McCarthy ally U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) refused to buy into the notion that the highest ranking Republican has dibs on the gig.

"I think this whole narrative about every member of the existing leadership taking one step up is bulls–t,'" he said, according to the report.