State Rep. Timothy W. Jones (R-Eureka) of the Missouri House of Representatives was unanimously elected by the new Republican caucus to be the next Majority Floor Leader. Why is that newsworthy? Because he was represented by “Birther Queen” Orly Taitz in a federal case alleging that President Barack Obama was secretly an Indonesian named Barry Soetoro and ineligible to be President of the United States.
Jones was listed as a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by lawyer-dentist Taitz to obtain an original birth certificate, immigration records, passports and other vital records from Obama.
Taitz is pretty pumped about Jones being in a position of power. “WOW, an unapologetic birther is unanimously elected to be the speaker of MO Hopuse of Representatives!!!” Taitz wrote on her blog. “PLEASE, CONTACT HIM AND DEMAND THAT HE BRINGS THIS ISSUE TO THE FLOOR OF THE STATE HOUSE OF REP-S.”
A message left at Jones’ office was not immediately returned. He’s previously declined to answer questions about the suit.
As stated in a press release, the Majority Floor Leader “is one of the most powerful leadership positions in the Missouri House of Representatives” who “controls the order of business of the chamber and works extensively with the Speaker to set the legislative agenda.”
“I am very humbled to be elected to the position of Majority Floor Leader by my colleagues. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to lead an unprecedented 106-seat majority,” Rep. Jones said in a statement. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead our strong Republican majority as we work on the issues most important to our state, including encouraging solid, family supporting, jobs, free market policies and principles, and fiscal responsibility.”
[Read a filing in the lawsuit filed by Taitz on his behalf.]
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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