House Republicans hold a weekly strategy meeting in Kevin McCarthy's office "called the five families" in reference to mafia syndicates, according to Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The Georgia representative described the meetings during an appearance on Steve Bannon's War Room, a podcast hosted by the former Donald Trump adviser.
Greene said: "There's a meeting that's happening every week.
"We meet in Kevin McCarthy's office and it's called the five families. And the five families—and you know my reference—the five families are parts of our conference, all the different parts, and we are coming together and having discussions on how we are going to govern in the majority and it's literally my favorite meeting."
Bannon replied: "I hope those meetings turn out better than the five families' meetings in The Godfather."
The 1972 gangster movie presented a fictionalized account of the struggle between Italian-American organized crime syndicates. The real "five families" were New York-based mafia gangs that rose to prominence in the 1930s: originally known as the Maranzano, Profaci, Mangano, Luciano and Gagliano families.
Greene did not give further details about the GOP's "five families" or which House Republicans were members of the various factions. Newsweek has contacted Greene for comment.
The GOP won a narrow majority in the House of Representatives in November's midterm elections, taking 222 seats to the Democratic Party's 213. The 118th Congress will meet for the first time next month.
Rep. McCarthy is widely expected to replace Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker in the new Congress.
However, some right-wing Republicans are opposed to McCarthy taking the position, arguing that as House Minority Leader he has been insufficiently hardline in opposing the agenda of President Joe Biden.
During a recent appearance on Bannon's War Room, Rep. Matt Gaetz said: "I don't think that he has passed the test of leadership."
He added: "While you see various spasms of conservatism or purported conservatism directed at big tech, remember that Kevin McCarthy has been holding up a shield to protect some of the dangerous elements of society that have harmed conservatives."
In October far-right activist Laura Loomer suggested that Greene had asked her to "dig up all the dirt" on McCarthy.
Appearing on In the Trenches with Teddy Daniels, Loomer said: "Marjorie had always been outspoken about Kevin McCarthy. Like, I have messages with Marjorie Taylor Greene on my cell phone where she...thinks Kevin McCarthy is so 'stupid' and how she wants me to dig up all the dirt on him."
On Saturday, Greene sparked controversy by saying the January 6 rioters who stormed Congress would have "won" if they'd been led by herself and Bannon.
She told the New York Young Republican Club: "I want to tell you something, if Steve Bannon and I had organized that, we would have won. Not to mention, we would've been armed."
Greene later said her comments had been "sarcasm," after the White House branded them a "slap in the face" to Capitol Police.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
James Bickerton is a Newsweek U.S. News reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is covering U.S. politics and world ... Read more
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