According to Politico, Florida Representative Matt Gaetz is reportedly seeking the support of his Democratic counterparts to unseat House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a move that would be unparalleled in recent history.
Despite Gaetz's denial of the report to the Washington Free Beacon, Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State confirmed the plot.
Jayapal told Politico, "Hes been talking to everybody about it. I told him in our caucus, in the Progressive Caucus, were not planning to save McCarthy for a whole host of reasons. And so, we really need to get through the shutdown first."
The motivation behind Gaetz's alleged scheme remains ambiguous. The friction between Gaetz and McCarthy has been public knowledge since McCarthy first assumed his speakership in January. Gaetz was a notable obstacle in McCarthys turbulent journey to the gavel and has shown little support for the Speaker since his 15th-round "present" vote allowed McCarthy to secure the necessary votes.
Collaborating with Democrats, particularly the party's most liberal members, would mark a significant intensification in their dispute. Despite his criticism of McCarthy, Gaetz has not yet endorsed a potential successor. His attempt to persuade Democrats to vote against McCarthy suggests a lack of support within his own party.
Gaetz's purported meetings with Democrats coincide with Congress's efforts to prevent a government shutdown. On Friday, the House rejected a McCarthy-endorsed continuing resolution to keep the government operational. The bill was defeated after a group of Republicans, led by Gaetz, defected.
Gaetz's actions have drawn criticism from his fellow Republicans. Representative Mike Lawler of New York labeled Gaetz a "charlatan" on Friday. He stated, "I think it's clear that Matt Gaetz is trying to undermine the Republican majority and the speaker for his own personal and political purposes."
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