The recent chaos in the House of Representatives took an unexpected turn as Republican Congressman Ken Buck faced severe backlash and even received an eviction notice for one of his district offices due to his opposition to Rep. Jim Jordan’s unsuccessful bid for the House speakership.
Buck, a staunch conservative and former Weld County district attorney, had publicly voiced his concerns about Jordan’s refusal to endorse the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election results. In a surprising move, Buck, along with seven other Republicans, had earlier played a key role in ousting Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California as speaker.
Despite the shared conservatism between Buck and Jordan, the Colorado Republican stood his ground and declined to support Jordan’s candidacy. This decision infuriated many Republicans, leading to a flood of calls inundating Buck’s district offices. In an interview with NBC News, Buck revealed the extreme extent of the backlash he faced, including receiving four death threats and an eviction notice for one of his offices in Colorado.
“The constant barrage of phone calls regarding my stance on Jordan had inundated my staff,” Buck stated. “I’ve been evicted from my office in Colorado due to my voting record on the speaker issue.”
“So far, I’ve had four death threats,” he said. “I’ve been evicted from my office in Colorado. I have a notice of an eviction because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the speaker issue.”
The office in question, located in Windsor, Colorado, is owned by Pelican Point Business Park LLC, whose registered agent is Martin Lind, a notable GOP donor. Lind, who has contributed to Buck’s campaigns in the past, declined to comment on the eviction claims.
Buck clarified during the interview that the threats he received were not directly connected to Jordan. Instead, he blamed various media pundits and grassroots groups for spreading misinformation and “hateful information.”
Throughout the controversy, Buck emphasized his belief that the House speaker should acknowledge President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. He emphasized the need for the leader of the GOP conference to stand firm and acknowledge the reality of the election results, a sentiment he expressed consistently before Jordan withdrew from the race.
Jordan’s removal as the GOP conference’s nominee for speaker in a 112-86 vote further intensified the uncertainty in the House, leaving the lower chamber without a permanent leader. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the deep divisions within the Republican Party and the challenges faced by those who express dissenting opinions in today’s polarized political climate.
