Kevin McCarthy: “I’ll give you the truth why I’m not speaker”

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said he was ousted as speaker because he refused to stop an ethics complaint against Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) over allegations he had sex with a minor.

"I'll give you the truth why I'm not speaker," Mr. McCarthy said Tuesday at an event hosted by Georgetown University. "It's because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old."

The Florida firebrand, who led the opposition to Mr. McCarthy assuming the gavel at the start of the 118th Congress and then triggered the vote to remove him as speaker in October, was previously investigated by the Justice Department over sexual misconduct allegations.

After prosecutors declined to bring charges in February 2023, the House restarted its ethics investigation into the matter that had begun under Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) but was paused while federal prosecutors looked into it.

"Did he do it or not? I don’t know," Mr. McCarthy said. "But Ethics was looking at it. There's other people in jail because of it. And he wanted me to influence it."

Rep. Gaetz rejected Mr. McCarthy's claim, calling him a "liar."

"Kevin McCarthy is a liar. That's why he is no longer speaker," he said on social media. "Just ask the 224 people who voted to remove him."

[rebeccaburnfiel]

He should have said that openly when he was facing removal. Instead, he decided to keep his mouth shut and cover for that "1 person, " and it cost him dearly.

[dancoyle]

It’s crazy how truthful and open a politician gets when it doesn’t matter at all. Real principled, Kev.

[amybreen]

You can't pick and choose your illegal actions dude. You're part of the problem

[cirella]

SICK AND TIRED of paying taxes only to hear this sh!t instead of bills and laws being written in that actually HELP the middle class and poor so we can all feel safe living our lives again.

[radman]

The entire house should be cleared of all the bought and paid for politicians.

[zachtift]

This dude COULD have said all this publicly prior to being voted out. His fault.

[APQN-CT]

No self-respect, no self awareness, no long-term vision, no sense responsibility. Just greed, corruption, dishonor, hate, bullying, destruction. All negative and evil

[trlaird]

For God sake...just stop all of this. So so sick of our government wasting time and our tax dollars. This is sickening.

[billobrien]

We are ALL so sick of this !

Term Limits Please

[ginadv]

Then why are charges not brought against him and why is he still in the house?
But yet.. you support trump?
Disgraceful😮

[Richard-duyj]

This is what happens to people who have too much power.

[MsMonte]

Kevin McCarthy should have had the balls to say this while he was Speaker. Period. He lost his Speakership because he was a weak man who was so craven for power that he would go along with anything/anybody to keep it.😮‍💨

[doriszelaya]

What? Seriously 😲Matt Goetz? Unbelievable…. This is appalling👿

[VIkingAB]

We’re behind your decision to quit Kevin. As Americans were just happy you’re gone, regardless of why.

[jimnorton]

When a politician begins the story with, I’ll tell you the truth, nothing that comes out of his mouth afterwards is the truth

[marclegarreta]

Oh, Kevin. No one thinks you’re courageous.

[jackieweathers]

Why are they NOT LOOKING AT MATT GAETZ NOW !

[FDSrd]

I can’t muster the energy to feel sorry for him. He should have never been House Speaker to begin with. We witnessed that when we watched how many times Republicans had to vote to get him approved. Then he sealed his fate by agreeing to change the rules allowing for one person to bring a motion to vacate his seat. How did that work out?

[jeanniestegner]

If you know you know. But if you know someone is sleeping with a 17 year old you are just as guilty as the offender if you do not protect the underage person.
I don't care who it is.
The truth shall set you free.

[Al-kdhv]

We literally witnessed McCarthy bribe members of the house just to be speaker. I’m still surprised this isn’t talked about more. They were negotiating on live television in front of everyone!