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First GOP lawmakers calls for Gaetz’s resignation
The first congressional Republican has called for the resignation of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), whom the Justice Department is investigating for alleged sex with a minor and possibly violating federal sex trafficking laws.
On Thursday night, Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R) tweeted: “Matt Gaetz needs to resign.” His tweet shared a Daily Beast report that Gaetz had paid alleged sex trafficker Joel Greenberg, an associate of his, $900, which Greenberg sent hours later to three teenage girls. Greenberg, who is facing dozens of charges, is reportedly expected to strike a plea deal with federal prosecutors in his criminal case.
RELATED: Lawmakers urge Gaetz to resign as new details of DOJ probe emerge
Kinzinger, who’s served in the House since 2011, has made a name for himself more recently for not being afraid to go after fellow Republicans when he feels they need to be held accountable. Notably, he was one of 10 House GOP lawmakers to vote in favor of impeaching former President Donald Trump shortly following the January 6 Capitol riot. The Illinois Republican also voted to strip GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) of her committee assignments back in February.
Last week, The New York Times was the first to report that the Justice Department was investigating Gaetz over allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paying for her travel. The Florida Republican has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying he’s “absolutely not resigning.”
MORE ON REP. GAETZ: ‘Women’ of Gaetz’s office sign letter defending congressman
Significantly, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has said that Republicans would support stripping Gaetz of his committee assignments if these allegations are proven to be true.
“Those are serious implications. If it comes out to be true, yes, we would remove him if that’s the case,” McCarthy told Fox News last week. “But right now Matt Gaetz says that it’s not true and we don’t have any information. So let’s get all the information.”
MORE ON REP. GAETZ: Fmr. Gaetz staffer says FBI agents questioned him with ‘baseless claim’
In the wake of last week’s revelations from The Times, new sex-related allegations against Gaetz have arisen.
Thursday last week, CNN, citing multiple sources, reported that the vocal Trump ally would allegedly show fellow lawmakers—even while on the House floor—photos and videos of women he had sex with. Gaetz has denied this.
A female GOP insider also reportedly told Business Insider in a piece last Friday that when Gaetz used to serve in the Florida statehouse, he and other lawmakers would play a “sex challenge” game, something which had been previously reported in lesser detail.
You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @DouglasPBraff.
Conservatives within the House GOP are taking on party leaders by engaging in an unprecedented blockade, effectively paralyzing the chamber’s legislative business. The standoff began after a typically routine procedural vote failed on Tuesday, prompting conservatives to seize control of the floor.
At the center of the dispute is the debt limit deal struck between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Biden. Some conservatives feel that the procedures used to pass the deal in the House last week did not align with the agreement they had reached with McCarthy. This agreement granted conservatives more influence over decision-making and the operational procedures involved in moving the bill forward, and they now accuse leadership of violating these commitments.
The tension escalated when Freedom Caucus members and their allies joined forces with Democrats in voting against a rule that would have allowed several bills, including two addressing the Biden administration’s gas stove limitations, to reach the House floor. This marked the first time in two decades that a rules vote had failed.
Representative Matt Gaetz voiced his frustration, expressing concern that the fundamental commitments made to secure McCarthy’s speakership had been disregarded due to the debt limit deal. Gaetz also criticized the punishment meted out to Representative Andrew Clyde for his stance against the rule that allowed the debt limit increase.
According to reports from Fox News, Gaetz said, “I am very aggrieved at the punishment that was delivered to my colleague Andrew Clyde on his bill regarding pistol braces… for him standing with us and the votes we took against the rule that allowed the debt limit to be increased.”
Gaetz pledged to bring the House floor to a grinding halt, anticipating a prolonged shutdown.
“We took down the rule because we’re frustrated at the way this place is operating,” stated Rep. Gaetz. “We’re concerned that the fundamental commitments that allowed Kevin McCarthy to assume the speakership have been violated as a consequence of the debt limit deal,” he added.
The era of the Imperial Speakership is OVER!
I’m done with their failure theater. https://t.co/Ceovz4C03U pic.twitter.com/7jNJpfRz4Z
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) June 6, 2023
The conservatives’ grievances extend beyond the procedural vote, with accusations that McCarthy has deviated from the undisclosed agreement made in January. Specific concessions that the dissident Republicans seek from McCarthy remain undisclosed, but they emphasize the need to restore unity and renegotiate their role within the party.
While McCarthy met with members of the Freedom Caucus, little progress was reported, and it remains uncertain if any votes will take place on the following day. The group insists that the restoration of a fair and inclusive process is essential to rectify the perceived failures of the previous week.
As the GOP leadership grapples with the repercussions of this internal standoff, the Republican majority’s effectiveness hangs in the balance. The path forward hinges on whether leadership is willing to reciprocate and address the concerns of the the dissenting group within the conservative ranks, ultimately determining the future of the party’s legislative agenda.
Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!
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