Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) formally moved Monday to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), filing a motion to vacate the chair.
The House must vote within two legislative days on the motion itself or on a separate motion to table or dispense with it.
Gaetz has threatened to bring the motion for weeks if McCarthy brought a stopgap spending bill to the floor that required Democrats to pass, as McCarthy did Saturday after Republican holdouts blocked earlier attempts. He has also accused McCarthy of breaking multiple promises.
BREAKING: Rep. Matt Gaetz has filed a motion to vacate the chair against Speaker Kevin McCarthy pic.twitter.com/vkJcgjD6qA
â ALX đ (@alx) October 2, 2023
The Florida congressman has been one of McCarthyâs most ardent foes. In the January speakerâs race, Gaetz refused to support McCarthy on the 14th ballot, voting âpresentâ to deny McCarthy when he and his allies believed they had enough votes to secure his speakership.
Gaetz reportedly blames McCarthy for an ongoing ethics investigation that could potentially lead to Gaetzâs expulsion from the House.
WATCH â McCarthy to Rep. Gaetz: âBring It On,â Iâll Survive as Speaker:
The motion will require widespread Democrat support to succeed. Gaetz has reportedly offered Democrats subpoena power in the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden in exchange for their support, although it is uncertain what authority Gaetz would have to make such promises.
The Democrat side of the House, in a bad sign for Gaetzâs efforts, erupted into laughter as Gaetz left the floor after making his motion.
The Democratic side of the House erupted in laughter as Gaetz left the floor,.
â Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 2, 2023
Follow Bradley Jaye on Twitter at @BradleyAJaye.