Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy has reportedly dared his critics in Congress to file a motion to vacate his seat.
McCarthy's remarks reportedly follow the approval of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden regarding his alleged corruption and business dealings with son Hunter.
During a closed door meeting, the Speaker of the House reportedly told fellow Republican lawmakers to "move a f---ing motion" to vacate his seat after Republican critics have slammed his support for a new spending package to avert a partial government shutdown before Sept. 30.
According to Politico reporter Olivia Beavers, the exact quote from McCarthy was, “If you think you scare me because you want to file a motion to vacate, move the fucking motion.”
The speaker reportedly said he was frustrated and concerned about a government shutdown if Republicans don't pass bills soon, according to CNN reporter Melanie Zanona.
McCarthy also reportedly said Congress would remain in session during a potential government shut down.
Florida representative Matt Gaetz, who has been an outspoken critic of McCarthy, said the Speaker was "having a total normal one" and was "not rattled at all."
"Truth is, Kevin controls his own fate," Gaetz wrote in a post on X.
The Florida representative suggested "instead of emotionally cursing," McCarthy should agree to pass single-subject spending bills and hold votes on term limits and balancing the federal budget. Gaetz also suggested McCarthy should seek the release of all footage related to the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, along with a subpoena of Biden's son Hunter.
"We must begin immediately. Pull yourself together, Kevin!"
Over the weekend, Gaetz asked if California representative Eric Swalwell or other Democrats in the House would support his motion to remove McCarthy as speaker.
"Matt is working with Eric Swalwell, but let me be very clear: Matt is upset about an ethics complaint," McCarthy told CNN of Gaetz's effort to remove him as Speaker. "I don’t care what they threaten against me. I’m not gonna interject into an independent committee like Ethics, and I’m not going to put Swalwell back on the Intel Committee. So, they can do whatever they want."
Gaetz is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use along with sharing inappropriate images on the House floor, misusing state identification records, inappropriately using campaign funds, bribery, and receiving impermissible gifts.
The Florida representative has denied accusations that his interest in vacating McCarthy as Speaker of the House is related to the Ethics Committee's investigation into him.
“I am the most investigated man in the entire Congress, and right there you saw Kevin McCarthy lying like a dead dog because I have never asked him to interfere in any ethics matter,” Gaetz told MSNBC. “[An] abject lie from a sad and pathetic man who lies to hold onto power.”
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article did not include the quote from McCarthy reported by Beavers. The subheading has also been changed to reflect the quote.
