BREAKING: Matt Gaetz, GOP who ousted McCarthy willing to accept censure to move speaker vote forward

Speaking outside the Capitol building following a failed third vote to elect Jim Jordan as House Speaker, a group of eight GOP House Representatives led by Matt Gaetz said that they are willing to accept censorship or other actions against them to get Jordan as House Speaker.

"We are willing to accept censure, sanction, suspension, removal from the Republican conference, we of course will remain Republicans, we will continue to vote with Republicans on Republican principals but if what these holdouts need are a pound of our flesh, we're willing to give it to them to see Jordan as Speaker," Gaetz said.

The letter to colleagues was signed by Reps Gaetz, Andy Biggs, Bob Good, Ken Buck, Tim Burchett, Nancy Mace, Eli Crane, and Matt Rosendale. Buck has not voted for Jordan in the three House Speaker votes held since McCarthy's ouster.

"The recent passage of the Motion to Vacate the Speaker has caused rancor, hurt feelings, and acrimony in the House Republican Conference," the letter states. "While we stand by our actions, it is our goal to proceed forward with our colleagues, our teammates, our fellow Republicans in a manner that embraces reconciliation."

"It has been suggested the Conference cannot move forward until there are consequences for each of us. While we violated no rule of either the House or Republican Conference, we understand some in the COnference wish to punish us."

The letter states that the actions "were never about us," but rather to "change Washington for the better."

"The House now needs a Speaker, and we have a Speaker-Designate in Jim Jordan of Ohio."

"Therefore, if the holdouts who refuse to vote for Speaker-Designate Jordan would be willing to 'vote with the team' and elect him the 56th House Speaker, we are prepared to accept censure, suspension, or removal from the Conference to accomplish this objective. We remain proud members of the Republican Party, as nominated by our respective districts."

20 GOP members voted against Jordan for other candidates in the first round of voting, 22 in the second, and 25 in the third round that took place on Friday afternoon.