Soon-departing former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., took a parting shot at the GOP congressman who led the charge to oust him.
McCarthy took aim at firebrand Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz while talking to reporters on Thursday, saying he was “psychotic” and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) studies minds like his.
“He was psychotic,” McCarthy said of Gaetz’s actions that led to McCarthy’s ouster as House speaker.
“People study that type of crazy mind, right?” McCarthy told a small group of outlets including Fox News Digital. “Mainly the FBI.”
It was the latest volley in the steady feud between McCarthy and Gaetz, whose motion to vacate ultimately led to McCarthy losing the House speakership.
McCarthy recently told Politico that Gaetz belongs behind bars when asked about the House’s Florida Republicans.
“You have a cross-section [of the delegation],” McCarthy told the outlet in late November. “You have Gaetz, who belongs in jail, and you have serious members.”
McCarthy’s criticism appeared to reference the ongoing probe of Gaetz by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sexual misconduct and misuse of his funding.
Gaetz pushed back at McCarthy, telling the outlet those were “tough words from a guy who sucker punches people in the back,” referencing allegations that McCarthy assaulted Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., by elbowing him in the kidneys.
“The only assault I committed was against Kevin’s fragile ego,” he added.
Their relationship appeared strained as tensions rose following Gaetz’s motion to vacate against McCarthy in October, eventually resulting in McCarthy’s removal as House speaker.
McCarthy took frequent shots at Gaetz throughout the process of selecting a new House speaker, which ultimately led to Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La, taking over the gavel.
Gaetz and Burchett were among eight Republicans who voted with Democrats to remove McCarthy.
I’m the one who is disgusted with the radical factions of both parties!!! They go too far in both directions and yet, they seem to have some important influence over the party heads!! It’s disgusting to watch someone like Gaetz stand up there with all of his psychotic power sticking it to the man – well, yes, he did that and, in my eyes, Gaetz is the fool!!! He got rid of McCarthy which so many seem to be pleased with but Gaetz had no replacement, no solution to ‘his’ McCarthy problems!!! All that showed is how untogether the entire Republican Party is!!! I am not a Democrat but I am not a Republican either!!! I, personally, can’t stand either party right now!!!!