Staff Reports
Republican Representative Matt Gaetz has, in an unexpected development, lodged an ethics complaint against former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The complaint pertains to a purported incident that transpired on Tuesday between McCarthy and Republican Representative Tim Burchett. Gaetz characterizes the occurrence as a "assault," whereas Burchett employs the terms "sucker punch" and "clean shot to the kidney" to describe it, respectively.
Matt Gaetz Refuses to Let Kevin McCarthy Get Away with His 'Assault’ on Tim Burchett, Makes a Big Move https://t.co/AUSUzBsIyE
— Ben Owen (@hrkbenowen) November 15, 2023
Gaetz demands in a letter published on his website that the Ethics Committee conduct an investigation immediately and expeditiously. He argues that there has been an unprecedented increase in transgressions of decorum and outrageous behavior among members of this Congress. Gaetz desires McCarthy to be investigated by the Committee irrespective of Burchett's decision to file charges or not.
There is substantial evidence, according to Gaetz's letter, that McCarthy violated his obligation to conduct himself in a way that is reputable of the House. The correspondence requests that the alleged assailant, the assailee, and any witnesses participate in underoath interviews. McCarthy has denied elbowing Burchett, attributing the incident to the congested entryway. Claudia Grisales, a congressional correspondent for National Public Radio, has stated, however, that she observed McCarthy strike Burchett.
The presence of animosity between Burchett and McCarthy is to be expected, given that Burchett was among the Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy from his position as speaker last month. Grisales documented on social media that Burchett pursued McCarthy and inquired as to why he had elbowed him in the back. The unfolding drama in the corridors of Congress continues.
