Kevin McCarthy says Matt Gaetz has ‘personal’ issues as he fires back at bid to kick him out: Defiant Speaker insists he doesn’t need help of Democrats to survive and rips into Florida Republican

By William On Oct 3, 2023

Kevin McCarthy claimed Rep. Matt Gaetz is having “personal” problems after the Florida Republican tried to impeach him, adding he doesn’t need Democrats’ help to stay in the speaker’s office as the House prepares to to vote on his fate on Tuesday afternoon. .

“Matt Gaetz planned this from the very beginning,” McCarthy told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” ‘He has personal things in his life that he is having problems with. That’s fine.’

McCarthy and some of his allies have alleged that Gaetz’s hostility toward him stems from the Florida Republican’s belief that the speaker played a role in an Ethics Commission investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct on Gaetz’s part. McCarthy has repeatedly said he does not get involved in ethics complaints.

Gaetz on Monday night introduced a “motion to vacate,” a legislative maneuver that would result in the chairman’s removal if a majority of the House approves. The vote could take place around 1:30 PM ET on Tuesday afternoon.

Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Rep. Matt Gaetz is having “personal issues” and noted he expected to survive the challenge to his speakership

But McCarthy thinks he will survive the challenge.

‘I’m an optimist. “I put money on myself,” he said.

He indicated that Gaetz’s move is persona.

What is a ‘motion to vacate seat’

The rules of the House of Representatives allow any lawmaker – Democrat or Republican – to file a “motion to remove the Speaker,” which is essentially an attempt to oust the Speaker from that leadership position through a privileged resolution.

Gaetz filed it Monday night and the House has two session days to vote on it.

Next steps: McCarthy allies will likely try to block it by filing or overriding the resolution.

That’s where Democrats can help save McCarthy, if they support the move to bring the matter to the table.

Democrats don’t have to vote yes to help McCarthy. They could simply vote present, or not show up at all, and that would lower the threshold McCarthy needs to block the motion.

If McCarthy’s allies fail to introduce the motion, the House would move to a vote on whether to impeach McCarthy.

Once again, Democrats could save him by voting for him or simply by voting present or absent.

If Gaetz’s motion passes, the presidency will be vacated and the House will have to hold new elections.

A candidate for speaker would have to receive a majority of votes from the legislators present who are voting. In January, it took McCarthy 15 votes to secure the speakership.

“He blames me for an ethics complaint against him that happened in the last Congress,” McCarthy noted.

“I have nothing to do with him wanting me to try to wipe that away. I’m not going to do that. That’s illegal. And you know what, if I somehow lose my job because I’m upholding the law, because I’m upholding the continuity of government. So it will be.’

The crucial votes will likely fall to Democrats, meaning Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and his caucus will have to make a tough choice: save McCarthy and stick with the speaker they know, or vote for his ouster and see who ultimately wins. gets votes from Republicans. sit in the speaker’s chair.

Jeffries and McCarthy spoke Monday evening.

McCarthy told CNBC that the two men have a good relationship, but added, “I’m not asking for a special deal or anything.”

“The Democrats didn’t ask for anything and I’m not going to give anything,” he noted.

However, he noted that longtime Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi does not support the option of using a motion to clear Parliament.

McCarthy pointed out that Pelosi said “she would always vote it down, not on the basis of saving any individual, but on the basis of what’s good for the government, what’s good for the institution as a whole.”

“And that’s the question: Are we now in a situation in our government that we just provided by keeping the government open, that we’re going to play politics with the way you become speaker? If that’s the case, I think we have real problems.’

Jeffries said Tuesday morning that “in many ways this is a conscious vote.” He said the party would reach a collective decision at their meeting that morning.

It is unclear how much support McCarthy would receive from Democrats, who have trust issues with him and are frustrated by his longstanding support of Donald Trump — even in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

“I’m not a cheap date,” said Democratic Rep. James McGovern.

“I’m a Democrat who’s not really in the mood to help him,” said Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin. “MAGA Republicans must solve the problems MAGA Republicans create.”

And some Democrats see McCarthy in a mess of his own making by agreeing to the conservative’s demand that a single lawmaker be able to make a motion to impeach the chairman.

“Are we siding with a sociopath or an incompetent?” said Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan. ‘Don’t know?’

But other Democrats worry that such a motion could paralyze the House of Representatives and set a dangerous precedent against future speakers.

Gaetz’s move Monday marks the first time a “motion to evict” has been used against a speaker.

Representative Matt Gaetz made a motion to remove Kevin McCarthy as speaker

The Democrats, led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (above), will likely be the ones to decide McCarthy’s fate

With Republicans holding a narrow four-seat majority, Gaetz only needs four other Republicans to join him in triggering new elections for chairman.

Democrats not only voted to save McCarthy by supporting a motion to evict, or they could simply vote present, which would raise the threshold of GOP votes Gaetz would need for victory.

Gaetz accuses McCarthy of breaking his word to conservatives on spending deals and how he would run the House of Representatives.

McCarthy’s allies say it’s a personal vendetta, pointing to the ethics committee investigating several allegations against Gaetz, including illegal drug use, sexual misconduct and misuse of campaign funds.

And some accuse Gaetz of trying to attract attention ahead of a plan to run for governor of Florida.

Gaetz could easily make his move to oust McCarthy because of a deal struck in January as McCarthy tried to secure enough Republican votes to become chairman. To gain sufficient support from the party’s conservative wing, McCarthy agreed to their demand to allow them to do so calling a snap vote to “vacate the seat” and remove him from office.

Gaetz accused McCarthy in a speech in the House of Representatives on Monday of a “secret deal” with Democrats to finance Ukraine. Many conservative Republicans want to end US aid to the war-torn country.

McCarthy denied the accusation and said there is no secret plan.

Gaetz, meanwhile, noted of McCarthy, “If he is able to stay in power, it will be he who will work for the Democrats and continue to do their bidding.” So this is a revealing exercise, and I think it will show the country who is really in charge.”

“I have enough Republicans where at this point next week one of two things will happen: Kevin McCarthy will not be the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or he will be the Speaker of the House working at the pleasure of the Democrats Gaetz said. said.

McCarthy responded to the issue on social media, writing on X: “Bring it on.”

Gaetz soon replied in a message: “Just done.”