McCarthy: Gaetz wanted ‘excuse to resign’ from Congress
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Wednesday that ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) wanted an “excuse to resign” from Congress when he was nominated by President-elect Trump to be attorney general.
Gaetz resigned from Congress almost immediately after his nomination, which was announced just as the House Ethics Committee was set to release a report on its investigation of the congressman last month.
The committee does not generally release its findings on members who exit Congress. It will meet later Thursday, as some Democrats call for it to release its report.
A week after his nomination, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general amid signs he would not have the votes in the Senate to be confirmed.
“So, what was the point, do you think, then, of nominating him?” NewsNation’s Dan Abrams asked McCarthy during his Wednesday broadcast.
McCarthy, who was ousted as House Speaker last year in an effort led by Gaetz, accused the former Florida lawmaker of not telling the truth to Trump.
“Well, I blame Matt for lying to the president, ‘cause what Matt needed to get out of Congress before the Ethics report came out on Friday — I don’t believe he told President Trump that. And so, I know the president [was having] a hard time finding who for attorney general,” McCarthy said.
“So, Matt wanted an out,” he added. “He wanted [the] excuse to resign, even though other people have been nominated, but they didn’t resign from Congress.”
Two other GOP lawmakers nominated to positions by Trump have yet to resign their seats in Congress.
McCarthy and Gaetz also have a historically sour relationship, and have repeatedly taken potshots at each other. McCarthy argued Gaetz led the bid to oust him because the then-Speaker wouldn’t put a stop to the Ethics investigation.
“Look, Matt has gone a long way,” McCarthy said Wednesday. “He made a motion to remove the Speaker because I wouldn’t stop the Ethics report. … He resigned from Congress two days before the Ethics report became public, trying to get the Ethics report not to go out. I think he would be concerned, probably, what’s in it.”
The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team and a contact for Gaetz for comment.
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