Kevin McCarthy removed in unprecedented House vote
Lawmakers have voted to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., marking the first time in the history of the House of Representatives that the chamber voted to remove a member from the top position.
Eight Republicans sided with every present Democrat, resulting in a 216 to 210 vote in favor of McCarthy’s removal.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., spearheaded the motion against McCarthy on Monday night, accusing him of reneging on commitments he made to secure the speaker’s position in January.
During a heated hour of debate preceding the motion, 11 Republicans joined every Democrat to move the measure forward. McCarthy’s supporters dominated the GOP side of the chamber, compelling Gaetz to argue his case from the Democrats’ side.
“Chaos is Speaker McCarthy. Chaos is someone we cannot trust with their word,” Gaetz declared, with McCarthy visibly affected.
In a dramatic moment, Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., a staunch McCarthy supporter, lambasted Gaetz and his allies for allegedly fundraising off their motion. Holding up his phone, Graves exclaimed, “Using official actions to make money, it’s disgusting.”
This elicited chants of “shame” from the GOP side.
Gaetz retorted, “When it comes to fundraising, I won’t be lectured on seeking patriotic Americans’ support by those who kowtow to lobbyists and special interests controlling our leadership.”
A GOP member shouted back at Gaetz, “You’re no martyr.”
Democrats signaled early reluctance to back McCarthy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., remarked before the vote that while Democrats sought bipartisan solutions, their “extreme colleagues” seemed unwilling. He urged an end to the “House Republican civil war.”
McCarthy’s election as Speaker in January was a protracted affair, requiring 15 rounds of voting.
Over the weekend, McCarthy drew the ire of hardliners by passing a short-term spending bill, a continuing resolution (CR), to avert a government shutdown. Ninety House Republicans opposed the CR, viewing it as merely extending the policies of the previous Democrat-led Congress. Yet, McCarthy’s earlier CR proposals, which would have reduced short-term spending, were thwarted by some of these same conservatives.
The palpable frustration among House Republicans was evident on Tuesday morning.
“This is a distraction from our main focus, the appropriations process,” stated Main Street Caucus Vice Chair Stephanie Bice, R-Okla. “This is all about Matt Gaetz. It’s not about Kevin McCarthy. Matt Gaetz is using the American people in his self-centered charade.”
With information from Fox News
