Who is Beth Van Duyne? The Texas GOP Rep, 53, ‘seen holding hands under the table’ with Georgia Republican Rich McCormick – as he files for divorce from oncologist wife

Georgia Republican Rep. Rich McCormick filed for divorce from his wife this month, asking for a mutual restraining order, sparking a flurry of speculation from colleagues.

His wife of 12 years, oncologist Debra Miller, only told DailyMail.com that she was “sure he wasn’t coming” when contacted about what caused the relationship to break up.

But Capitol Hill insiders have said they saw McCormick, 55, “holding hands under the table” with female Republican member of the House of Representatives Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas.

A source added that they saw him “grabbing her back” on the floor of the House of Representatives during the votes.

With the two rumors Although it’s been a thing since January, Rich McCormick’s followers may now be wondering: who is Beth Van Duyne?

Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, speaks during the House Republicans press conference on Feb. 29

A native of upstate New York, Van Duyne moved to Texas as a teenager and built an impressive record in local politics before assuming the role of representative for Texas’ 24th Congressional District.

Her rise saw her gain the support of Donald Trump in 2020 and receive about 65 percent of the vote in the March primaries.

“Beth Van Duyne did great things as Mayor of Irving, Texas, with my administration,” the former president wrote on Twitter/X.

“She is a strong conservative who supports border security, loves our military and vets, and supports your #2A.

“Beth has my full support for Congress!” he exclaimed at the time.

Beth said on her campaign page that it was her two children from a previous marriage that prompted her to run for public office, warning of the era’s “fragility” for the nation, families and “the future of the American dream’.

She described herself as a single mother, a conservative Republican and reformer who “defeated government corruption” and “helped create growth and new jobs” during her six-year stint as mayor of Irving, 2011-2017.

At the time, she made history as the first woman to serve in this role, and she credits the city with “unprecedented economic growth… with 40,000 additional jobs and an estimated $3 billion in growth and new development.”

In 2021, Beth’s name appeared in national headlines when her campaign communications director tragically shot and killed herself outside her home.

Richard Christian “Chris” Dillard – a former campaign worker, political consultant and Republican activist – committed suicide outside her Irving home on February 10, 2021.

Dallas County GOP spokesman William Busby told the Dallas Morning News that Dillard wanted a job in Van Duyne’s congressional office after her election, but she was not offered one.

Authorities said Dillard died of a single gunshot wound.

“I have known him for years and he has been to my house several times for holiday parties, fantasy football drafts and drinks with friends,” Van Duyne said in the statement at the time.

“I last heard from him in early January via text sharing photos of his family,” she said, detailing how she was “devastated” for Dillard’s mother and children.

Texas Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne of TX 24

Lawmakers including Representative Ronny Jackson, Representative Beth Van Duyne and Representative Ashley Hinson react as US President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address, February 7, 2023

Campaign communications manager Chris Dillard pictured with Beth Van Duyne, undated

Since then, Van Duyne has steadily made a name for herself in Congress, eventually being named part of the 2024 Trump campaign leadership team in March.

Van Duyne calls for a return to Trumpian economics and claims to be ‘focused on… [helping] individuals keep more of what they earn,” finding an affordable and reliable energy supply and facilitating an expansion of manufacturing in the United States.

This week, she pledged on Facebook to deport “aliens” accused of a crime related to what she called the “anti-American, pro-terrorist demonstrations taking place across our country.”

Among the policies likely to appeal to her supporters, Van Duyne voted against the 2022 Ukraine aid deal, which introduced $40 billion in emergency aid to the Ukrainian government during the Russian invasion.

However, she also called for President Biden to be impeached for the “egregious violation” of “withholding congressionally approved aid” to Israel, warning that limiting “much-needed aid…endangers our ally ‘.

Outside of politics, Van Duyne describes herself as a pro-lifer, a proud mother and a Christian.

In 2012, a year into her term as mayor of Irving, she divorced her longtime partner Chris “Casey” Wallach, whom she met while attending Cornell University.

Van Duyne describes how she left home at the age of 17 to go to college, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BA in urban and regional planning, administration and law.

The couple was reportedly married for 17 years before announcing their divorce.

Rumors about Van Duyne’s relationship with Rich McCormick were first revealed by DailyMail.com, but sources say internal speculation has been going on since January 2024, the newspaper said. New York Post.

A source told DailyMail.com that they saw Van Duyne holding McCormick’s arm as he walked out of the Longworth Office building late at night.

And during the State of the Union address on March 7, the two were seen sitting together and laughing as they watched Biden’s speech.

Rich McCormick (center) with his wife Dr. Debra Miller (on his left) and seven children

Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) speaks at a press conference on June 14, 2023

McCormick even reached over to gently squeeze Van Duyne’s arm in a tender moment between the pair that was caught on camera.

A spokesperson for McCormick did not confirm or deny the relationship, according to The New York Post reportedbut said the “rumor mill” was “old news.”

They added that McCormick and his wife had been separated for some time.

“He has kept that private and will continue to keep his personal life out of the media spotlight.”

When asked if the divorce involved an alleged affair he may have had with a co-worker, his soon-to-be ex-wife Miller replied: “You’ll have to ask Rich and his co-worker.”