In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, expressed his willingness to consider a change in House rules that could potentially eliminate the mechanism he utilized to depose Representative Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, from his position as Speaker.
Gaetz also voiced his support for either Representative Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, or Representative Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana, as suitable replacements for the ousted McCarthy.
McCarthy's removal from the Speaker's position came about after Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate, accusing McCarthy of reneging on promises he made to secure the Speaker's gavel in January. This marked the first instance in the history of the House of Representatives where a Speaker was voted out of office.
While Gaetz expressed a preference for retaining the motion to vacate as an option, he did not dismiss the possibility of supporting an initiative to abolish it. "Im leaning against changing our existing rules for any particular purpose," Gaetz stated. "Though, I am open-minded and would be willing to hear anyones presentation if they were offering a rules change."
Following McCarthy's removal, both Jordan, who serves as the House Judiciary Committee Chairman, and Scalise, the House Majority Whip, have announced their intentions to run for Speaker of the House.
Gaetz praised both candidates, stating, "Both of these men would represent a monumental step forward for the Republican conference. I dont believe there is a single conservative in the country who would not believe we are in a better position with either of them."
As Jordan's bid for Speaker gains traction within the GOP conference, speculation is rife about who might succeed him as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. This committee, along with the House Oversight and Ways & Means Committees, is currently spearheading the impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
When asked about his own ambitions for the post, Gaetz instead endorsed a colleague, stating, "The best person to take the Judiciary Committee if Jordan became speaker would be (Louisiana Rep.) Mike Johnson. Because hes a better lawyer than I am."
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