House Republicans aim to remove Matt Gaetz until Ethics Committee report is released.
House Republicans Prepare to Expel Rep. Matt Gaetz Amid Ethics Committee Investigation
Reports have emerged that some House Republican members are gearing up to file a motion to expel Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) from Congress. This move comes as the House Ethics Committee is set to release a forthcoming report on Gaetz’s alleged behavior.
Meanwhile, Gaetz himself is planning to file a motion to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) this week. Many top Republicans believe this is a personal vendetta against McCarthy due to the ongoing Ethics Committee investigation, which was initiated during the previous Congress under Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
The investigation is said to be focused on allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other misconduct. When the probe was launched in 2021, Democrats announced that they were looking into various allegations against Gaetz, including sexual misconduct, sharing inappropriate content on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds for personal use, and accepting bribes or impermissible gifts.
If the ethics committee report finds Gaetz guilty, House Republicans are reportedly prepared to take action and expel him from Congress. One member even described Gaetz as ”a smart guy without morals” who is widely disliked within the party.
Despite the mounting accusations, Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing. In response to a report by Fox News, he shared a post on X.
https://t.co/e8ECYirYhM pic.twitter.com/CnU3DEaz1p
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 1, 2023
While Gaetz faces widespread criticism, there are some lawmakers who have come to his defense. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) argued on X that it is “UNETHICAL to threaten to expel a member for following and using house rules that the ENTIRE conference agreed to.”
However, Gaetz’s recent actions have drawn significant backlash. He jeopardized a short-term funding bill that would have kept the government open by giving leverage to Democrat lawmakers. The bill included provisions for spending reduction, border security funding, and a commission on the federal debt. Ultimately, Republicans were forced to make a deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown, losing out on their desired provisions.
Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) criticized Gaetz’s actions, stating that he can only succeed with the support of Democrats. Smith argued that Gaetz’s collaboration with Democrats to remove the Republican speaker is unacceptable and will hinder ongoing investigations.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich went as far as suggesting that Gaetz may be secretly working for the Democratic Party, as he believes Gaetz is undermining and weakening the House GOP.
Conservative media personality Mark Levin also criticized Gaetz and his allies for sabotaging the conservative spending bill, accusing them of lacking a clear plan or objective and shifting blame onto others.
Conservatives got the whole of the House GOP to agree to cut the government by 8% as their opening negotiation with the Senate, but Matt Gaetz decided his grudge against Speaker McCarthy was more important. So he helped scuttle cuts, and now the government is going to grow.
— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) September 30, 2023
How might the forthcoming report from the House Ethics Committee impact public perception of Rep. Gaetz and influence House Republicans’ decision to take action against him
Etz’s supporters argue that he is being unfairly targeted and that the allegations against him are politically motivated, many House Republicans seem to be distancing themselves from him. This is not surprising, considering the seriousness of the accusations and the potential damage they could inflict on the party’s reputation.
Expelling a member of Congress is a rare occurrence, but it has happened in the past. The most recent example is former Rep. Steve King (R-IA), who was expelled from the House in 2020 due to his controversial remarks on white supremacy. If the allegations against Gaetz are proven to be true, it is likely that House Republicans will feel compelled to take similar action.
It is worth noting that expulsion from Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote in the House. This means that both Republicans and Democrats would need to vote in favor of expelling Gaetz. While it is uncertain how Democrats will vote, given their previous interest in investigating Gaetz, it is possible that they will join with Republicans in condemning his alleged misconduct.
The forthcoming report from the House Ethics Committee will play a crucial role in determining Gaetz’s fate. If the investigation find substantial evidence of wrongdoing, it will be difficult for Gaetz to maintain his innocence. However, if the report exonerates him, it could potentially shift public perception and undermine the efforts of House Republicans who are seeking his expulsion.
Regardless of the outcome, this episode serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical conduct and accountability in Congress. It also highlights the divisions within the Republican Party, as some members seem willing to distance themselves from Gaetz while others continue to support him.
In the coming weeks, all eyes will be on the House Ethics Committee and its report on Rep. Matt Gaetz. As the investigation reaches its conclusion, House Republicans will need to decide whether to take action and expel Gaetz or stand by him. Their decision will have significant implications not only for Gaetz’s political future but also for the integrity of the Republican Party as a whole.
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