The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his position, causing further chaos in Congress. This is the first time in history that the House has ousted its leader. The move was driven by a small group of right-wing Republicans, led by Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida, who accused McCarthy of not doing enough to reduce federal spending.
This event adds to the drama that has unfolded throughout the year, as the Republican-controlled House has brought Washington close to default and a partial government shutdown. McCarthy’s party holds a narrow majority, meaning they can only afford to lose five votes if the Democrats oppose them.
During the House floor debate, Gaetz and a few allies criticized McCarthy for relying on Democratic votes to pass temporary funding and avoid a government shutdown. They argued that they need a speaker who will fight for more than just remaining as speaker. McCarthy’s supporters, including conservative members, defended him, stating that he has successfully limited spending and advanced conservative priorities despite opposition control.
The Democrats, however, made it clear that they would not assist the Republicans in resolving their internal issues. They view McCarthy as untrustworthy after he broke an agreement on spending with President Joe Biden and authorized an impeachment investigation against Biden.
Gaetz, who repeatedly voted against McCarthy’s bid for speaker in January, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use in an ongoing ethics investigation. McCarthy’s supporters have suggested that Gaetz’s motivations are rooted in his desire for publicity and personal gain.
Although Gaetz denies these allegations and states that his actions are not based on a personal dislike of McCarthy, he argues that McCarthy has not fulfilled his duties as speaker.
Reporting by Makini Brice, David Morgan, Richard Cowan, Nandita Bose, Moira Warburton, Susan Heavey, and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alistair Bell, and Howard Goller
Credit: The Star : News Feed
