Kevin McCarthy and Matt Gaetz have never been bosom buddies, but the relationship between the GOP congressmen has been on a distinct downward spiral over the last 10 months. Some reasons for that likely include:
Gaetz’s refusal to support McCarthy’s bid for House Speaker, his decision to cast a ballot for another candidate through 14 rounds of voting, and then vote present on the final one.The fact that McCarthy, according to Gaetz, is behind the Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and sexual misconduct by the Florida representative.Gaetz’s move to oust McCarthy from his leadership role.
And we’re guessing a reconciliation is not in the cards any time soon, given McCarthy’s recent suggestion that Gaetz is guilty of everything he’s been accused of and belongs behind bars!
Speaking to Politico about the divisiveness among Florida Republicans in Congress and the little power they hold, the former House Speaker said, “You have a cross section [of lawmakers]. You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail, and you have serious members.” McCarthy did not specify what, exactly, Gaetz should be in jail for, but the odds are extremely high he was referencing the sexual misconduct business. In 2021, the Justice Department opened an investigation into Gaetz for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and traveling across state lines. Shortly thereafter, CNN reported that the congressman had shared images of naked women with colleagues on the House floor and allegedly claimed to have slept with the women in the photos. (Gaetz has denied allegations against him.) While the DOJ ended its investigation of Gaetz and did not charge him with any crimes, the House Ethics Committee revived its own investigation in July 2023.
In response to McCarthy’s jail remarks, Gaetz told Politico, “Tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.” (After McCarthy allegedly elbowed Representative Tim Burchett in the kidneys earlier this month, a claim McCarthy denies, Gaetz called for an Ethics Committee investigation into the ex-House Speaker.)
And the comment about belonging in jail wasn’t the only Gaetz-related shot McCarthy fired this week! Speaking to the Daily Mail about the reopened investigation into the Florida congressman, McCarthy said, “From what people have said and written about it, it seems even worse than [George] Santos.” Santos, of course, has been charged by federal prosecutors of stealing donors’ identities and spending campaign cash on himself. He has pleaded not guilty, but that may nevertheless lose him his seat in Congress.
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