(TruthAndLiberty.com) – Former Representative Kevin McCarthy recently shared insights regarding his removal as Speaker of the House, attributing it to a controversy involving another member of Congress. McCarthy, speaking at Georgetown University, revealed that his ousting stemmed from a demand by a fellow Congressman, who was under an ethics investigation for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, to interfere in the ethics complaint against him.
McCarthy explained, “The truth why I’m no longer speaker is because a member of Congress wanted me to obstruct an ongoing ethics investigation because he was involved with a 17-year-old. This complaint was initiated before my speakership, and intervening as he desired would have been illegal.”
While McCarthy did not directly name this Congressman in his talk, the context points to Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, who had filed a motion that ultimately led to McCarthy’s removal in October 2023. Gaetz is currently under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over allegations similar to those McCarthy described, though the Department of Justice has paused its investigation into related sex trafficking claims.
In response to McCarthy’s allegations, Gaetz retorted via Fox News Digital, dismissing McCarthy as dishonest and suggesting his poor leadership was the real reason behind his dismissal: “Kevin is a liar. That’s actually why he isn’t Speaker anymore,” Gaetz commented, referencing the substantial number of votes cast to remove McCarthy.
Additionally, McCarthy has been vocal in his criticism of Gaetz, even suggesting in a November statement to Politico that Gaetz “belongs in jail.” This sharp rebuke highlights the tension between the two, with McCarthy noting the seriousness of some members contrasted with the alleged misconduct of others like Gaetz.
Gaetz has defended himself against these allegations, maintaining his innocence. He stated, “The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego.” His past has been marred by other controversial claims, including reports of sharing explicit images with peers and boasting about his conquests, as CNN disclosed.
Joel Greenberg, a former associate of Gaetz, is currently incarcerated after admitting guilt in a sex trafficking case, further complicating the narrative around Gaetz, who insists he has never engaged in such illegal activities.
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