
House Republicans search for path forward after Scalise drops out of speaker's race
CBSN
Washington — House Republicans will convene for an internal meeting Friday morning to try to chart a path forward for selecting a new nominee for speaker after Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who earned the nod just two days ago, abruptly announced his decision to step aside.
Scalise's announcement late Thursday came amid mounting opposition to his candidacy from the fractured GOP conference's right flank, making it unlikely he could secure the 217 votes needed to win the gavel in a vote on the House floor. House Republicans chose Scalise as their candidate for speaker over Rep. Jim Jordan, a conservative firebrand who leads the Judiciary Committee, in a closed-door vote Wednesday.
Scalise told reporters he made his decision to withdraw in hopes that a candidate could emerge who could bring the party together.

Robert Morris, founding pastor of Gateway Church, a megachurch in Southlake, Texas, has been indicted on five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, stemming from alleged incidents dating back to the 1980s, the Oklahoma attorney general's office announced Wednesday. We are aware of the actions being taken by the legal authorities in Oklahoma and are grateful for the work of the justice system in holding abusers accountable for their actions. We continue to pray for Cindy Clemishire and her family, for the members and staff of Gateway Church, and for all of those impacted by this terrible situation.