House celebrates January 6 – and tries again to elect a new speaker

The House of Representatives entered its fourth day of voting for a speaker amid a battle between Kevin McCarthy and dissident conservatives that paralyzed congressional business.

Before members began voting for a 12th speaker, a ceremony was held on the steps of the Capitol to mark the second anniversary of the January 6 attack. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made brief remarks at the ceremony, followed by family members of those who died as a result of the siege.

Inside the hall, House Pastor Margaret G. Kibben devoted her opening prayer to “remember unimaginable turmoil,” while Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) paid tribute to the Capitol Police Department at the nomination of McCarthy, and a standing ovation from the chamber, and Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) also commemorated the anniversary in his comments on Jeffries’ nomination.

It had been two years since many of the members in the chamber, along with journalists and staff, were forced out of the chamber after rioters breached barriers and a group tried to break through entrances to the house floor.

McCarthy and his allies held talks with some dissenters, including Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), but it was unclear whether the apparent progress led holdouts to change their vote.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was unfazed. By the name of Rep. Presenting Jim Jordan as a candidate, he suggested that McCarthy’s decision to continue as speaker was an “exercise in vanity.” He said McCarthy’s ambition was “to close the house.” He also attacked the negotiations with McCarthy, arguing that his concessions would weaken the position over a largely ceremonial role.

Tensions between Republicans flare up on the ground. At one point, as Gaetz spoke, Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) stood up and shouted that he was not okay because he devoted so much of the nomination speech to the destruction of McCarthy.