Radical politician avoids sanction

WASHINGTON: Republicans in the United States House of Representatives yesterday opted not to punish newcomer Marjorie Taylor Greene for incendiary comments including support for violence against Democrats, and turned back an attempt to oust a leader who had voted to impeach President Donald Trump.

The twin actions, taken in a closeddoor meeting, amounted to an uneasy truce for a party facing internal strife following Trump’s tumultuous presidency.

By a vote of 14561, Republicans voted not to strip Representative Liz Cheney from her position as the No 3 House Republican.

Cheney, like nine other House Republicans, had voted to impeach Trump on charges of insurrection after the last month’s deadly attack on the US Capitol. The other 197 had voted against impeachment.

‘‘We’re not going to be in a situation where people can pick off any member of leadership,’’

Cheney said after the vote.

She told CNN she did not regret her vote to impeach Trump.

‘‘Absolutely not,’’ she said. Republicans also decided not to take action against Greene, who has propagated a series of conspiracy theories and had been a vocal supporter of Trump’s false assertion the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

McCarthy said Greene had renounced her contentious past comments, including her support for the QAnon conspiracy theory. Greene has also supported calls for violence against Democratic politicians, according to CNN.

Greene still faces an effort by Democrats to strip her of two highprofile committee assignments. A vote is likely today. — Reuters