Former Rep. Kevin McCarthy recently revealed that he was ousted as Speaker of the House by a member of Congress who requested him to intervene in an ethics complaint involving the allegation that the member had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old. McCarthy’s removal from the chamber was initiated by Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct. McCarthy made these statements during a speech at Georgetown University, clarifying that he could not confirm whether the individual was guilty of sexual misconduct but that he was asked to influence the investigation during his time as Speaker.
Despite not explicitly naming Gaetz, it is clear that he was the member of Congress at the center of McCarthy’s statements. Gaetz commented on McCarthy’s claims, calling him a liar and suggesting that his untruthfulness was the reason behind him losing the speakership in the House. Gaetz, who has represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2017, is being investigated for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl whom he reportedly paid to travel with him. Although the Justice Department has paused its probe into sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz, the House committee is continuing to examine the accusations.
McCarthy has been vocal in his criticism of Gaetz, asserting in November that Gaetz “belongs in jail.” McCarthy has also referred to Gaetz as someone who “belongs in jail” while noting that there are other more serious members among the Florida Republicans in the House. In response to these accusations, Gaetz has dismissed the claims, stating that the only assault he committed was against McCarthy’s ego. Gaetz has faced a series of allegations regarding his behavior around women, including reports that he would discuss his sexual experiences with his colleagues in Congress and share nude photos of women he had been involved with.
One of Gaetz’s former associates, Joel Greenberg, is currently serving prison time after pleading guilty to charges related to a sex trafficking investigation. Despite the mounting allegations against him, Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he has never engaged in sexual activity with a minor or paid for sex. Gaetz has also suggested that McCarthy would be well-suited to the role of RNC Chair after being ousted as Speaker and has commented on McCarthy’s apparent capability to troll others as he did with Gaetz. The ongoing controversy surrounding Gaetz’s alleged misconduct remains a point of contention within the House and among his colleagues.
