(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Rep. Mat Gaetz, R-Fla., a vocal critic of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has filed a scathing ethics complaint against the California Republican.
The complaint revolves around McCarthy’s alleged physical altercation with Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., who played a key role in the recent move to oust McCarthy from the speakership.
🚨 BREAKING: I have filed a formal Ethics complaint against former @SpeakerMcCarthy for assaulting @RepTimBurchett. pic.twitter.com/I3WebPFLhS
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) November 14, 2023
Gaetz wasted no time in delivering a one-page letter to the House Committee on Ethics, urging for an “immediate” and “swift investigation” into the reported altercation. He did not hold back in expressing his concerns about the state of decorum in the current Congress.”
“This Congress has seen a substantial increase in breaches of decorum unlike anything we have seen since the pre-Civil War era,” Gaetz emphasized in his complaint.
“I myself have been a victim of outrageous conduct on the House floor as well, but nothing like an open and public assault on a Member, committed by another Member. The rot starts at the top,” he added.
News — Rep. Tim Burchett accuses Kevin McCarthy of a “sucker punch” to the kidneys and describes heated scene as he chased the former speaker down the hallway.
Said he’s the type of the guy who as a kid would “hide behind his mama’s skirt.”
McCarthy denies it was intentional pic.twitter.com/fBvOUxMb5z— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 14, 2023
Burchett, who described the incident as a “sucker punch” and a “clean shot to the kidney,” told CNN that he was shocked at the alleged assault.
Responding to the ethics complaint, McCarthy dismissed Gaetz’s allegations and took a jab at the Florida Republican, who is facing an ethics investigation for alleged sexual misconduct and misuse of funds.
“I think Ethics is a good place for Gaetz to be at,” McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday.
News — Kevin McCarthy denies sucker punching Tim Burchett in kidneys. Says it was a crowded hallway and accidentally bumped into him. Said Burchett would know if it were intentional. Dismisses Burchett saying he was still in pain after the incident pic.twitter.com/3WkrU6lnkr
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) November 14, 2023
McCarthy also downplayed the alleged physical assault, claiming, “I would not hit him in the kidney. I guess our shoulders hit, because Burchett runs up to me afterwards. I did not know what he was talking about. If I would hit somebody, they would know I hit them.”
The reported altercation comes in the aftermath of McCarthy’s surprising revelation that he was most taken aback by the votes of Burchett and Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., in support of the Gaetz-led motion to vacate the speakership.
This unprecedented move forced McCarthy to step down from his position, marking a historic moment in U.S. congressional history.
