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For more on House Republican primary infighting, watch “Inside Politics with Manu Raju” on Sunday at 8 a.m. Washington CNN —GOP Rep. Don Bacon has had it with the far-right of his conference. Now McCarthy allies in the House GOP Conference are considering giving a boost to Aaron Dimmock, the retired Navy officer facing off against Gaetz in the August 20 primary. And while the outcomes in most of these primary races won’t impact the GOP’s efforts to keep the majority, they will shape the makeup of the next House Republican Conference and how they pursue their agenda. Several of Gonzales' colleagues in the House are backing a GOP primary challenger in his race for reelection.
Persons: Manu Raju ”, Don Bacon, They’ve, Republicans —, Bob Good, , Bob Good’s, ” Bacon, we’ve, Tony Gonzales, Matt Gaetz, Good —, Adam Morgan, William Timmons, Kevin McCarthy, John McGuire, McCarthy, Mike Johnson, Dan Newhouse, Donald Trump, MAGA, Scott Perry, Jerrod, Gaetz —, McCarthy —, Gaetz, Aaron Dimmock, Derrick Van Orden, tubby ”, Chip Roy, Samuel Corum, Trump, , Ralph Norman, Morgan, Timmons, Joe Biden, Sen, Tony Vargas, Bacon, Dan Frei —, Lee Terry, “ He’s, ” Frei, Frei, Eric Underwood, Underwood, Bacon doesn’t, ” Underwood, he’s, Frei mailer, it’s, Gonzales, Tom Williams, Sarah Chamberlain, McGuire, Good’s, Steve Bannon, I’ve, ” Johnson, that’s, undercutting, CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Sheden Tesfaldet Organizations: Republican, Washington CNN, GOP, Republicans, Nebraska Republican, CNN, Congress, Caucus, Rep, Good, Washington, Trump, Freedom Caucus, House GOP Conference, Navy, Gaetz, , Wisconsin Republican, Capitol, Getty, House Republican Conference, Democratic, Nebraska Republican Party, Nebraska Republicans, , mailer, Republican Main Street Partnership, Nebraska GOP Locations: Nebraska, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, Ukraine
CNN —The House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz has subpoenaed his ex-girlfriend who was a key witness in the federal investigation into the Florida lawmaker, according to her lawyer Tim Jansen. A spokesperson for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment on the matter. The ex-girlfriend was granted immunity in the federal criminal probe and testified before a grand jury in January 2022. That federal probe concluded in 2023 with no charges brought against the congressman. Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including ever having sex with a minor or paying for sex.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Tim Jansen, Jansen, Gaetz Organizations: CNN, Capitol Hill, ABC News Locations: Florida
A lawyer for the chief witness against Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, said on Friday that the witness was cooperating with a House Ethics Committee investigation into whether Mr. Gaetz had sex with an underage girl while he was serving in Congress. Fritz Scheller, a lawyer for Mr. Gaetz’s former friend and political ally Joel Greenberg, said he provided documents to the committee that he said backed up his client’s claims that he witnessed Mr. Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl. Greenberg has and will cooperate with any congressional request,” Mr. Scheller said in an email on Friday. Mr. Greenberg, who pleaded guilty in May 2021 to charges including sex trafficking, is serving an 11-year prison sentence. He had previously cooperated with a Justice Department investigation into whether Mr. Gaetz had engaged in sex trafficking of a minor, a federal offense that carries a minimum of 10 years in prison.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Fritz Scheller, Gaetz’s, Joel Greenberg, “ Mr, Greenberg, ” Mr, Scheller, Mr Organizations: Republican, Justice Department Locations: Florida
The House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Matt Gaetz has reached out to an ex-girlfriend who was a key witness in the federal investigation into the Florida lawmaker, according to a source familiar with the ethics probe. Gaetz said in a statement to CNN that the Ethics Committee investigation is “payback” for Gaetz’s efforts to oust Kevin McCarthy, the former speaker of the house, and that he sees “through this sham and the American people will too.” The Ethics Committee declined to comment. That federal probe concluded in 2023 with no charges brought against the congressman. She is not expected to voluntarily cooperate with the Ethics probe. But McCarthy has repeatedly denounced those accusations and has said Gaetz worked to oust the former speaker because of the ethics probe.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, , , Annie Grayer Organizations: GOP, Florida Republican, CNN, Capitol Hill, Justice Department Locations: Florida, California
McCarthy continually accused Gaetz of only going after him because of a House Ethics Committee probe he’s facing, a charge the GOP hardliner has repeatedly denied. “If the Ethics Committee never does anything to Gaetz, then Gaetz was successful in stopping probably what rightfully should come to him,” McCarthy said. Asked if he were concerned about Johnson’s approach to Gaetz, McCarthy said: “That’s a question for Speaker Johnson. It’s not good for the House,’” McCarthy said of Pelosi. Asked if he had thought he would make it two years as speaker, McCarthy said: “I never knew.”McCarthy credited Trump for his winning the gavel.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Donald Trump, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, GOP hardliner, , ” McCarthy, Mike Johnson’s, , Johnson doesn’t, Johnson, , ” Gaetz, Harry Truman, he’d, Franklin Roosevelt’s, “ I’m, hasn’t, Hakeem Jeffries, , Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi, , We’d, It’s, ’ ” McCarthy, ” Aaron Bennett, ” Bennett, Pelsoi, Trump, ” Haley Talbot, Shania Shelton Organizations: CNN, Former, Republicans, California Republican, GOP, Republican, Congressional, Fund, American Action, Louisiana Republican, New York Democrat, Capitol, Trump, Florida Republican Locations: California, Florida, Washington, Louisiana
Gaetz, a far-right House Republican who viewed Speaker Kevin McCarthy as too willing to compromise with Democrats, started a process three weeks ago to unseat him. Not only did that effort work, but House Republicans emerged from their recent chaos yesterday to elect Mike Johnson as the new speaker. “Because now we have both a man and a plan.”Johnson had little national profile until he emerged as the leading candidate for speaker on Tuesday night. Unlike the three failed speaker candidates who came before him, Johnson has few enemies among House Republicans. His hallmark in Congress, our colleague Annie Karni wrote in a profile of Johnson, “has been combining his hard-line views with a gentle personal style.”
Persons: Matt Gaetz’s, Kevin McCarthy, Mike Johnson, Johnson, McCarthy, , ” Gaetz, ” Johnson, Susan Collins, Annie Karni Organizations: Republican, Democrats, Republicans, 118th, Wall Street, Maine Republican, House Republicans Locations: Maine
Live updates: House speaker race and vote
  + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Mike Hayes | Shania Shelton | Ryan Brooks | ) edition.cnn.com   time to read: +2 min
Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy speaks to reporters as he walks to the House Chambers in the Capitol on October 18, 2023 in Washington, DC. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesFormer Speaker Kevin McCarthy argued interim Speaker Patrick McHenry already has the powers that some in the anti-Jim Jordan crowd want him to have. “I think you shouldn't have to do a resolution, that McHenry can carry this on as we elect Jim Jordan our speaker,” he said. “We're going in, we want to elect Jim Jordan, and if Jim's numbers drop, it's a lot of that is due to Gaetz’s email that he put out last night,” said McCarthy. Going after Republicans that would work with anything with Democrats when he did all this to us?
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Raedle, Patrick McHenry, Jim Jordan, McHenry, , , ” McCarthy, CNN’s Manu Raju, Matt Gaetz, Jordan’s, Gaetz, McCarthy, “ We're, Jim, Jordan Organizations: House, Capitol Locations: Washington , DC
CNN —Matt Gaetz is a product of America’s broken information environment. But as the media landscape has dramatically shifted, particularly in the right-wing information space, so have the power dynamics in Washington. The gravity actually rests in the hands of high-profile media personalities — many of whom are not incentivized by unity and compromise, but feed off conflict and division. And these media personalities have birthed and empowered people like Gaetz. The right-wing media machine — comprised of Fox News, talk radio, social media personalities, and a constellation of blusterous websites — have made stars out of attention-hungry politicians.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan, Donald Trump, McCarthy, don’t Organizations: CNN, Republicans, Republican Party, GOP, Fox News Locations: Florida, Washington, Washington .
Much of the furor is directed at Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, the ringleader of the McCarthy rebellion. “I think it’s very sad that this is obviously politically personally motivated,” Murphy said of Gaetz’s push to oust McCarthy. “I don’t think Markwayne Mullin and I have said 20 words to each other on the House floor. Republicans in the group will huddle as a unit next week to decide their next steps, the lawmaker said. “I have no advice to give to House Republicans except one – I hope whoever the next speaker is gets rid of the motion to vacate,” McConnell said.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Mace, McCarthy, Mace, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Kelly Armstrong, , ” Armstrong, , Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Garret Graves, Mark Schiefelbein, ’ Gaetz, Mike Lawler, Greg Murphy, ” Murphy, Dave Joyce of Ohio, ” Joyce, Graves, Max Miller, hasn’t, Austin Scott, Sen, Markwayne Mullin –, McCarthy –, Markwayne Mullin, Kevin, ” Gaetz, Brian Fitzpatrick, bipartisanship, Hakeem Jeffries, Mitch McConnell, ” McConnell Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Republican Governance Group, Capitol, Florida Rep, Democratic, North Dakota Republican, , House GOP Conference, ” Ohio Republican, Georgia Rep, Oklahoma Republican, Republicans, Democrats, Group, House Republicans Locations: South Carolina, Washington, Louisiana, New York, North Carolina
The House vote to oust Kevin McCarthy from his post on Tuesday marked a historic first, as a group of conservatives sided with Democrats to successfully boot him from the speakership. Immediately following the vote to oust McCarthy, a temporary speaker – Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina – took over based upon a list of succession that the former speaker submitted in January. In his first move in the temporary role, McHenry recessed the chamber to “discuss the path forward,” before lawmakers returned to their districts for the week. Following the vote, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was ordered to vacate her Capitol hideaway. Pelosi called the move a “sharp departure from tradition,” as other former speakers have been permitted to retain offices near the House chamber beyond their tenure.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Patrick McHenry of, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina –, , McHenry, , Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan of, Kevin Hern, Tom Emmer, Donald Trump, he’s, Matt Gaetz’s, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy –, , ” McConnell, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Pelosi Organizations: White, Republican, GOP, Republicans, House Democrats, Capitol hideaway Locations: Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, McHenry, Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Florida
Kevin McCarthy Ousted as House Speaker
  + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Kaia Hubbard | Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +6 min
The House narrowly voted to oust Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday, dooming the House speaker to a fate that seemed almost guaranteed since he took the gavel in January, with a group of rebels in his conference nipping at his heels. “The office of speaker of the House of the United States House of Representatives is hereby declared vacant,” the clerk announced as the vote concluded. A temporary speaker – Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina – is expected to take over based upon a list of succession that McCarthy submitted in January, according to House rules . But in 2015, McCarthy’s speaker bid abruptly ended amid pushback from right-wing lawmakers who have long seen him as insufficiently conservative. I’m the 55th speaker of the House.”Without McCarthy at the helm, the House is expected to soon vote to elect another speaker.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Patrick McHenry of, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina –, McHenry, , McCarthy’s speakership, Washington ”, , Andy Biggs, Ken Buck, Tom Burchett, Eli Crane, Matt Gaetz, Bob Good, Nancy Mace, Matt Rosendale, Gaetz, motioned, it’s, ” Gaetz, ” McCarthy, ” McCarthy’s, McCarthy’s, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: United States House, Democrats, Washington, Bakersfield, Republicans – Rep, GOP, Republican, California Republican, Florida Republican, Democratic, House Republican Locations: Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, California,
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers who had been sitting in stunned silence gasped at the declaration: The office of speaker “is hereby declared vacant. ”For the first time ever, a House speaker had been voted out of the position, plunging Congress into a new degree of turmoil. “Chaos is Speaker McCarthy,” Gaetz said on the floor, suggesting a series of reforms could make Washington work better. “Shocking … just the finality of it," said Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Foreign Relations Committee. Republicans will try to coalesce around a new leader after McCarthy ruled out another bid to become speaker.
Persons: gasped, , Kevin McCarthy, Brian Fitzpatrick, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, Donald Trump, Hakeem Jeffries, “ Kevin McCarthy, , Jamie Raskin, Matt Gaetz, ” Gaetz, Republicans —, , Patrick McHenry of, Michael McCaul, Republicans seething, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Democrats —, Mary Claire Jalonick, Farnoush Amiri, Lisa Mascaro, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Lawmakers, California Republican, Lawmakers, Republican Party, Republicans, , Pennsylvania Republican, Capitol, Democratic, Republican, Texas Republican, Foreign Relations, , Democrats, Associated Press Locations: California, United States, Washington, Pennsylvania, “ Ukraine, Russia, Maryland, Patrick McHenry of North Carolina, Texas, Gaetz
CNN —Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday moved ahead in his attempt to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from the top House leadership post, offering a motion to vacate the chair on the House floor – a rare procedural move that can be used to force a vote to remove the speaker. A floor vote to oust McCarthy would require a majority to succeed. According to House precedent, a resolution to remove the speaker would be considered privileged, a designation that gives it priority over other issues. To force a vote, a member must go to the House floor and announce their intent to offer the resolution to remove the speaker – as Gaetz did. Gaetz also cited the possibility of the House holding votes on sending aid to Ukraine as another reason to oust him.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, It’s, McCarthy, , Mark Meadows, John Boehner, Boehner, Gaetz, Eli Crane, Bob Good, Andy Biggs, CNN he’s, , Tim Burchett, Hakeem Jeffries, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, ” Biden, , Biden, we’ll, ” McCarthy, Karine Jean, Pierre, “ There’s Organizations: CNN —, Monday, GOP, Florida Republican, Capitol, Ohio Republican, CNN, Democratic, Conservatives, Republican Party, Ukraine Locations: Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Ukraine
Matt Gaetz Moves to Oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy
  + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Kaia Hubbard | Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com   time to read: +3 min
Rep. Matt Gaetz formally sought to remove the House speaker on Monday evening, filing a motion to vacate that would force Kevin McCarthy from his post in what will be a historic clash within the chamber’s Republican caucus in the days to come. “It is becoming increasingly clear who the speaker of the House already works for, and it’s not the Republican conference,” the Florida Republican said. And though it only takes one lawmaker to bring up a vote to vacate the speaker, it would require a majority of voting lawmakers to succeed. In turn, they gained the power to bring up a motion to vacate the speaker – lowering the threshold to just a single lawmaker’s request. McCarthy has repeatedly brushed off the threats, touting his fight for speaker as an example of his resilience.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Gaetz, it’s Organizations: Republican, California Republican, White, GOP, Florida Republican, House, Caucus Locations: California, Ukraine, Florida
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Matt Gaetz said Sunday he will try to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a fellow Republican, from his leadership position this week after McCarthy relied on Democratic support to pass legislation that avoided a government shutdown. Gaetz, a longtime McCarthy nemesis, said on CNN's “State of the Union” that McCarthy was in “brazen, material breach” of agreements he made with House Republicans in January when he ran for speaker. As a result, Gaetz said he would be filing a “ motion to vacate the chair,” as House rules permit. Procedural votes could be offered to halt the motion or it could trigger a House floor vote on whether McCarthy, R-Calif., should remain speaker. “The only way Kevin McCarthy is speaker of the House at the end of this coming week is if Democrats bail him out,” Gaetz said.
Persons: Matt Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, ” McCarthy, , Gaetz, Let’s, , ” Gaetz, Mike Lawler, Gaetz’s, ” Lawler, ABC’s, , Mark Meadows, Donald Trump’s, Boehner, Farnoush Amiri Organizations: WASHINGTON, , House Republicans, GOP, — Democrat, Republican, ___ Associated Press Locations: “ State, North Carolina, Ohio, ___
“I do intend to file a motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy this week. But now, knowing full well he’s likely to soon face a so-called motion to vacate vote, McCarthy is taking his detractors head-on – and in increasingly combative terms. If the Senate bill advanced, McCarthy would have a harder time arguing his bill was the solution. 3 Senate Republican, opposed the Senate bill, breaking with McConnell, according to a source familiar with the matter. But that wasn’t enough to convince House Democrats to oppose the funding bill with a shutdown looming.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy didn’t, Bryan Steil, Steil, Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, Nick LaLota –, McCarthy, , Matt Gaetz, CNN’s Jake Tapper, , ” Gaetz, McCarthy’s, it’s, ” McCarthy, , Gaetz, Kevin McCarthy, Tom Cole, Tom Emmer, wouldn’t, chomping, ” Steil, Steve Womack, Ralph Norman of, “ I’m, Norman, “ We’ve, Andy Biggs, ” Biggs, Kevin, Don Bacon, Sen, Markwayne Mullin, Mullin, John Thune, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy chatted, Thune, John Barrasso of, McConnell, Hakeem Jeffries, , Democratic appropriators, Jamaal Bowman, Democrats ’, Mike Quigley, Congressional Ukraine Caucus –, Putin, ” Quigley, Shuwanza Goff, Steve Ricchetti, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Joe Biden’s, Biden Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Rep, Wisconsin Republican, New York Republicans, Democratic, Florida, Union ”, Democrats, House Democrats, Republicans, Leadership, Border Patrol, Arkansas GOP, Arizona Republican, Nebraska Republican, Senate, White, Ukraine, Cannon, New York Democrat, House, Congressional Ukraine Caucus Locations: , Wisconsin, “ State, Ukraine, Arkansas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Thune, John Barrasso of Wyoming
That’s why, today, I am directing our House committee to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden,” McCarthy said. The confrontation could trigger a government shutdown in the coming months – a potential political headache for McCarthy heading into an election year. So even if he wanted to initiate impeachment against Biden to save himself, McCarthy may not have the power to do it. It’s often been impossible to see a clear path ahead in which McCarthy can appease competing political forces with the minuscule majority Republicans secured in last year’s midterm elections. Ahead of an autumn that could turn into a political migraine for McCarthy, he is back in a familiar position.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Joe Biden, , Donald Trump, Biden, ” McCarthy, Trump, Matt Gaetz, , Vladimir Putin’s, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy’s, Chip Roy, ” Roy, Trump’s, Hunter, Gaetz, “ We’ve, , who’s, Matt Gaetz's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, ” Greene, Ken Buck, doesn’t, CNN CNN’s Zanona, Annie Grayer, don’t, It’s, he’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Biden, Republican Party, Capitol, Representatives, Republicans, Republican, Florida, Trump, Freedom Caucus, Senate Republican, Kentucky Republican, Democratic, Caucus, Texas Rep, Senate, Democratic White House, House Republicans, California Republican, Georgia, holdouts, Committee Locations: California, Washington, Ukraine, Taiwan, Florida, Colorado, Buck
“I personally would like to see the inquiry happen (this) week,” the Georgia Republican told CNN. The two chambers are hundreds of billions dollars apart and divided over controversial social issues that House Republicans have tacked on to their spending bills. “I am against a continuing resolution in any form or fashion,” Gonzales told CNN. “There is a constitutional and legal test that you have to meet with evidence,” Johnson told CNN. If McCarthy again defers an impeachment vote, it could enrage the right.
Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Biden, , capitulating, Donald Trump, McCarthy, Steve Womack, , hasn’t, Tony Gonzales, Womack, “ McCarthy, Dusty Johnson of, “ He’s, I’ve, Anna Moneymaker, It’s, Ben Cline of, , ” Johnson, ” Gonzales, I’m, Gonzales, Bob Good, Al Drago, Greene, ” Greene, Ken Buck, don’t, Johnson, Sen, Marco Rubio, ” Rubio, West Virginia Republican Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, ” Capito, impeaching Biden, Trump, ” Rep, Dusty Johnson, Alex Brandon, Cline, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, @aoc, eric, Lauren Boebert, defers, ” Womack Organizations: CNN, Federal Aviation Administration, GOP, Georgia Republican, , Biden, Republicans, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, , Building, Department of Justice, Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Senate, Senate Democrats, Fox Business, Republican, Bloomberg, Getty, House Republicans, , Street Caucus, Florida Republican, West Virginia Republican, Capitol Locations: Washington, Ukraine, That’s, Arkansas, Tony Gonzales of Texas, Dusty Johnson of South, Washington , DC, Ben Cline of Virginia, Virginia, Ken Buck of Colorado, Florida, South Dakota, , Colorado
WASHINGTON—The Justice Department has ended its investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz without bringing charges against the congressman, drawing to a close a yearslong probe centered on whether the Florida Republican had inappropriate contact with a minor. Mr. Gaetz’s office said the Justice Department has “confirmed to Congressman Gaetz’s attorneys that their investigation has concluded and that he will not be charged with any crimes.”
Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz owned corporate stock in a company that received nearly $500,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans forgiven in 2020, but users online are claiming that he personally received PPP loan forgiveness without owning a company. A Twitter post said: “Don’t forget, Matt Gaetz had $482,321 in PPP loans forgiven despite the fact that he doesn’t own a company. The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), which was created as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), includes a dashboard to search for all the PPP loans forgiven (here). A search for Caregivers, Inc. on the PRAC PPP dashboard shows that it received $482,321 in PPP loans forgiven to cover payroll, which matches the amount in the social media posts (see the “PPP Details” section). U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz did not personally receive $482,321 in PPP loans forgiven, but he owned stock in a company that received loan forgiveness during the pandemic.
Fractured teams lose,” GOP Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, co-chair of the centrist-leaning Main Street Caucus, told CNN, pointing to McCarthy’s broad support among the conference. During the meeting, they told McCarthy they would have his back and were committed to voting for him on multiple ballots if it comes to that. But one member told CNN they also conveyed concern to McCarthy about restoring the motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. “He’s open to a lot of things,” Norman told CNN, including adopting the motion to vacate the chair rule. “I’ve said this over and over again: there is not this, like, enormous amount of drama,” Moore told CNN.
Those included a stalking charge for falsely smearing a political rival as a pedophile, identity theft and sex trafficking the same 17-year-old who is the alleged victim in the Gaetz case. The alleged victim, who turned 18 in December 2017, did not answer requests for comment from NBC News. Also according to that plea agreement, the alleged victim falsely claimed she was of age on her SeekingArrangement profile. The Gaetz investigation became public in March 2021, after The New York Times reported the general contours of the investigation. The potential witnesses in the federal government’s inquiry into Gaetz is not limited to Greenberg, the alleged victim and Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend.
Vertol is based in the Florida Panhandle city of Destin, in Gaetz’s congressional district, and near Keefe’s home city as well. State and federal campaign finance data show Vertol contributed $2,500 to the North Florida Neighbors super PAC backing Gaetz’s first congressional bid in 2016. After DeSantis was elected, Vertol in 2019 contributed another $10,000 to the Republican Party of Florida, which is ultimately controlled by the governor. And Vertol contributed another $1,000 in June to state Rep. Jay Trumbull Jr.’s state Senate campaign. His father, Jay Trumbull Sr. had been appointed by DeSantis to the Florida Transportation Commission, which oversees the Florida Department of Transportation, the agency in charge of the Vertol contract.
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