Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) blasted House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in a speech nominating Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for speaker of the House.
Gaetz accused McCarthy of corruption and working against the interests of Republicans. His speech followed Jordan nominating McCarthy for speaker and came after he voted for Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) in the first round of votes.
MCCARTHY FAILS ON SECOND SPEAKER BALLOT AS ‘NEVER KEVIN’ LAWMAKERS SHIFT SUPPORT TO JORDAN
“Maybe the right person for speaker of the House isn’t someone who wants it so bad,” Gaetz said. “Maybe the right person for the job of speaker of the House isn’t someone who has sold shares of themself for more than a decade to get it. Maybe Jim Jordan is the right person for speaker of the House because he is not beholden to the lobbyists and special interests who have corrupted this place and corrupted this nation under the leadership of both Republicans and Democrats.”
Gaetz attributed Jordan backing McCarthy to him being “humble to a fault” and called him “the most talented, hardest working member” of Congress.
In his speech, Jordan urged Republicans to come together in support of McCarthy.
“I think Kevin McCarthy is the right guy to lead us,” he said, adding, “I like his fight. I like his tenacity.”
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Jordan is the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the Freedom Caucus, which houses many of McCarthy’s opponents.
