(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – Deep trouble is brewing within the House Republican ranks as many GOP lawmakers want to expel Rep. Matt Gaetz due to his plan to file a motion to depose House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The internal GOP conflict intensified after, on Sunday, Gaetz (R-FL) told CNN he would file a motion to vacate against McCarthy (R-CA) and had enough Republican legislators backing him.
The speaker responded on CBS by declaring he would survive Gaetz’s challenge. (video below)
The Florida Republican is now suffering backlash as his GOP colleagues are considering a bid to expel him, according to a Fox News report.
“No one can stand him at this point. A smart guy without morals,” an unnamed Republican House member told Fox, as cited by The New York Post.
The report notes that a motion to remove Gaetz would follow if any wrongdoing on his part is established in an ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
The committee has been looking into the Florida congressman over allegations he was involved in sex trafficking, narcotics use, and corruption after earlier this year, the US Justice Department decided against charging him in the case.
The Post notes that the expulsion of a House member requires a two-thirds majority, thus requiring a bipartisan vote in the chamber, divided 221-212, with two vacant seats.
It also indicates that few details about the Ethics Committee probe have been available, but it is allegedly nearing completion.
At the same time, Gaetz’s motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy would require only a simple majority to pass.
“I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy. Look, the one thing everybody has in common is that nobody trusts Kevin McCarthy. He lied to Biden. He lied to House conservatives,” Gaetz told the CNN program “State of the Union” Sunday.
Meanwhile, a smiling McCarthy told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that he would survive the Florida Republicans’ motion to vacate.
“I’ll survive. You know this is personal with Matt. Matt voted against the most conservative ability to protect our border. He’s more interested in securing TV interviews than doing something,” the speaker said.
“So be it. Bring it on. Let’s get over with it, and let’s start governing,” McCarthy said, accusing Gaetz of trying to secure a government, which was avoided with a bipartisan last-minute vote on Saturday.
"I'll survive," House @SpeakerMcCarthy says after Rep. Matt Gaetz said Sunday that he will introduce a motion to vacate McCarthy from his seat this week.
"Bring it on. Let's get over with it." pic.twitter.com/SnCVIHTN4f
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 1, 2023
