Topline
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) accused Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) of making a lewd remark about South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem’s appearance, an escalation of his attacks against Gaetz over the congressman’s effort to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as speaker—as Gaetz faces intense backlash from some of his Republican colleagues for spearheading McCarthy’s ouster.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) leaves the U.S. Capitol after U.S. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) … [+] was ousted form his position, October 3, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Gaetz referred to Noem, then a member of the House, as a “fine b—-h” the first time he met the then-freshman congressman, Mullin said Tuesday in a Newsmax interview.
Mullin, a former congressman, also accused Gaetz of saying he had to go “sell [his] constituents catheters” before television interviews, referring to his older base of supporters.
Mullin has aired several allegations of inappropriate comments Gaetz has made to fellow lawmakers in retaliation for Gaetz’s efforts to remove McCarthy.
On Wednesday, Mullin told CNN Gaetz showed fellow lawmakers videos on the House floor of “girls he had slept with” and “bragged about how he would crush [erectile dysfunction] medicine and chase it with an energy drink so he could go all night.”
In response to Mullin’s statements on CNN and Newsmax, Gaetz said he and Mullin “have said 20 words to each other on the House floor,” calling the allegations a “lie from someone who doesn’t know me and who is coping with the death of the political career of his friend Kevin,” and facetiously adding “thoughts and prayers.”
Key Background
Gaetz filed a motion late Monday to remove McCarthy as speaker over a series of grievances that reached a breaking point on Saturday when McCarthy pushed a short-term budget deal through Congress with the help of Democrats to keep the government open. Seven other Republicans joined Gaetz in voting to remove McCarthy on Tuesday, making him the first speaker in history to be fired from the job by his colleagues. GOP Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.) are running to replace him.
What To Watch For
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told Punchbowl on Wednesday he is considering filing a motion to expel Gaetz from the House Republican Conference following his effort to remove McCarthy. GOP Reps. Don Bacon (Neb.) and Dave Joyce (Ohio) also said they would support removing Gaetz from the conference following McCarthy’s ouster.
Tangent
Gaetz has faced a series of accusations of inappropriate behavior toward women during his time in Congress. The Justice Department investigated him for sex trafficking after he was accused of paying for underage girls to travel across state lines so he could sleep with them. Federal authorities announced in February they would not bring charges against Gaetz, but the House opened an ongoing ethics investigation into his conduct. Gaetz has also been accused of showing nude videos and photos of women he slept with to fellow lawmakers, sources told CNN in April 2021. And last month, former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson accused Gaetz of suggestive behavior toward her, including thumbing her chin and asking “has anyone ever told you you’re a national treasure?” Gaetz has denied all three sets of allegations.
Further Reading
Matt Gaetz Will Not Face Charges In Sex-Trafficking Probe (Forbes)
McCarthy Ousted: First House Speaker Ever Booted From The Job (Forbes)
Ex-Trump Aide Cassidy Hutchinson Accuses Matt Gaetz Of Suggestive Behavior In New Book (Forbes)
