Rick Scott Blames McConnell After He and Mike Lee Lose Key Committee Seats

FIRST ON FOX Republican Senators Mike Lee from Utah and Rick Scott, Florida Fox News Digital learned that they were removed from Senate Commerce Committee.

Multiple Senate sources including Scott’s office confirmed to Fox News Digital that Scott was and Lee had been taken. The panel is off-limits As the Senate restructures around its one seat Democrat majority.

Scott stated to Fox News Digital, that he is blaming Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, R.Ky. for the removal.

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Republican senators Mike Lee from Utah and Rick Scott from Florida were expelled by the Senate Commerce Committee before entering this Congress.
(Getty Images)

“I represent the third-biggest state in the country,” Scott spoke in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital. “What they told me today at lunch is the way the rules work, McConnell gets to pick.”

“So guess who [were] kicked off? Mike Lee and me,” The senator continued.

Scott stated that he is “not going to back down” He believes that he “did the right thing” McConnell, which he challenged for the top GOP Senate slot, said that he believes the Senate GOP Conference “needs to change.”

“We have to stop giving in to the Democrats,” Scott stated that he believes Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will serve as an advisor. “very good ranking member” The chairman of the committee said that he would continue to work with him in legislation.

Florida senator said that he believed “McConnell made that decision” Scott “ran against him.”

Scott stated to Fox News Digital that he believes Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is behind Lee’s and his removal.
(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

As Republicans prepare for a slim Democrat majority, the committee cuts are occurring.

Senate committee memberships are changed to reflect party breakdown when a new Congress starts.

Last Congress saw the partisan composition of committees equalized with a fifty-fifty Senate. However, the new 51-seat Democratic majority will mean that one Republican will be removed from each Committee.

The senator who is removed from a committee usually ranks it as the third most important panel in their congressional work.

Multiple Senate sources, including Scott’s office, confirmed that Scott and Lee were removed from the panel during a restructuring of the Senate around its one-seat Democrat major.
(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

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Scott UnsucCessfully challenged McConnell was elected to the leadership role following the disappointing 2022 midterm elections.

Lee refused to comment on his expulsion from the committee.

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, who is a Republican, has also left Commerce committee to serve as the Senate Finance Committee.

Fox News Digital reached McConnell’s Office for Comment.

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