Top defenders?

Jordan to lead Oversight GOP, Collins to lead Judiciary

By RACHAEL BADE

House Republicans have named Reps. Jim Jordan and Doug Collins to be President Donald Trump's top defenders on two key investigative panels next Congress, closing out several weeks of intense jockeying for the high profile positions.

The Republican Steering Committee, which chooses committee leaders, unanimously elected Jordan to be the top Republican on the Oversight Committee after his friend, Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, withdrew his bid for the job at the last minute.

The two men had settled on a plan weeks ago that Jordan would seek the ranking Republican job on the House Judiciary Committee — the panel that deals with impeachment — while Meadows (R-N.C.) would go for Oversight.

But on Wednesday, Jordan withdrew his Judiciary bid after it became clear to the Ohio Republican that Collins (R-Ga.) would win the position.

Senior Republicans expected that Jordan (R-Ohio), after realizing he wouldn't get the Judiciary post, would go for the Oversight Committee, where he is next in line for the job in seniority.

But just hours before the vote, Meadows had not withdrawn his campaign for the job, creating an awkward dynamic between two men who are best friends and have worked together for years to thwart their party’s leadership.

The episode created a last minute shuffle for the GOP.

Even as Republicans were huddling Thursday morning to vote on ranking member positions, Jordan’s office would not confirm whether he was gunning for the Oversight post. But Meadows was still expected to present to the Steering Committee in the afternoon on why he should get the job.

Then, when it came time for presentations before Steering, Meadows bowed out suddenly and Jordan was summoned to answer questions about whether he wanted the job. He said he did. And Steering elected him.

Collins, meanwhile, easily claimed the Judiciary position. Close with GOP leadership, and with a wealth of legislative achievements, Collins had been working behind the scenes to lock down the votes for more than half a year.

Trump had leaned on incoming House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to make some sort of deal with Jordan and McCarthy on committee posts. But even his reach has limits on Capitol Hill.