Freedom Caucus chair says he's not plotting against Ryan

Source: The Hill




BY MAX GREENWOOD - 09/08/17 08:33 AM EDT

Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) on Friday denied reports that he has been in talks with former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon about a potential replacement for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

“I can tell you there’s no plan, there’s nothing there, and if I was working on a plan to depose the Speaker you wouldn’t be reading about it in the press,” Meadows said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

The Washington Post reported Thursday that Meadows has been discussing possible replacements for Ryan with Bannon, the executive chair of Breitbart News who left his post as President Trump's chief strategist last month.

"I can tell you I’ve had conversations with Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus, both within the last 48 hours or so, and I can tell you that we're laser focused not on a leadership change, but that we change Washington, D.C.," Meadows said. But Meadows also dodged questions on whether he thinks Ryan is an effective leader and said that GOP lawmakers must focus on passing Trump’s agenda.



Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/349771-freedom-caucus-chair-says-hes-not-plotting-against-ryan