Who is Marjorie Taylor Greene, the proQanon congresswoman?
2:52
(CNN) ––
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell issued a tacit scolding on Monday to controversial Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.
McConnell called the Georgia Republican's "wacky lies and conspiracy theories" a "cancer" for the party.
"Wacky lies and conspiracy theories are the Republican Party's cancer for our country," McConnell said in a statement.
“Anyone suggesting that maybe no planes hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that the horrific school shootings were planned ahead of time, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr.'s plane does not live in reality.
This has nothing to do with the challenges facing American families.
Not with the solid debates on the substance that can strengthen our party, "said McConnell.
McConnell did not name Greene directly.
However, his statement is a scathing reprimand to the House Republican first-year.
The average
The Hill
first reported on the statement.
Greene responded quickly on Twitter.
In a message, he noted that “the real cancer for the Republican Party are weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully.
That is why we are losing our country.
Greene has faced a barrage of criticism since a CNN KFile report last week found that she had repeatedly indicated her support for the execution of prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019, before being elected to Congress.
Amid an uproar over her earlier comments, a video last Wednesday went viral showing Greene confronting David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland shooting, before she was elected.
The congresswoman has a history of inflammatory rhetoric, including past comments using Islamophobic and anti-Semitic tropes.
Also mentions of QAnon's conspiracy theory, unsubstantiated and completely discredited.
advertising
Be honest and speak your mind, claims mother of shooting victim Marjorie Taylor Green
Greene now faces potentially dire consequences in light of his previous comments.
Additionally, House Democrats are quickly mobilizing to remove her from her commission assignments.
Steny Hoyer, the House Majority Leader and the second Democrat in that body, plans to deliver an ultimatum on Greene to Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy of California this week.
This was indicated by a source familiar to CNN.
Hoyer is expected to tell McCarthy that Republicans have 72 hours to strip Greene of his commission assignments or that Democrats will bring the issue to the House floor.
CNN previously reported that McCarthy will meet with Greene this week.
Meanwhile, many House Republicans have been silent about Green's inflammatory remarks that recently resurfaced.
McConnell privately says he wants Trump out, as Republicans quietly pressure him to condemn
McConnell's short but sharp rebuke on Monday night comes on the same day the Kentucky Republican publicly entered another controversy that threatens party unity.
In a separate statement to CNN, McConnell expressed support for Republican Rep. Liz Cheney's vote to impeach President Donald Trump.
Right as some Trump loyalists seek to remove her from leadership.
In the Cheney and Greene cases, the Republican leader appears to be breaking with former President Donald Trump.
Greene announced on Saturday that he had spoken to Trump amid congressional expulsion calls.
She said she was grateful for their support and that she "will never apologize" while facing multiple criticisms.
Annie Grayer, Manu Raju, Clare Foran, Veronica Stracqualursi, Daniella Diaz, and Jamie Gangel, all from CNN, contributed to this report.
Marjorie Taylor GreeneMitch McConnell Republican Party Conspiracy Theories