Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed an ethics complaint after Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) claimed that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) elbowed him in the back.
Burchett was one of eight Republicans who voted against McCarthy remaining House speaker.
Gaetz files ethics complaint after McCarthy allegedly elbows Burchett in kidney https://t.co/Zlg55mKiVF
— AmericanSerfdom (@patriotico67) November 15, 2023
According to reporter Claudia Grisales and Burchett, McCarthy elbowed the Tennessee Republican in his back while walking past him. Grisales documented that Burchett asked the former speaker why he elbowed him before chasing after him,” the Washington Examiner reported.
McCarthy Elbowed GOP Rep.
“McCarthy denied shoving Burchett, to which the lawmaker retorted, ‘You got no guts, you did so, … the reporter said it right there, what kind of chicken move is that,’” it continued.
“It has come to my attention that this morning, November 14, 2023, following a meeting of the House Republican Conference, Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) assaulted Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) in the hallways of Capitol complex,” Gaetz wrote.
“This assault was witnessed by multiple people, including Claudia [Grisales] of NPR, who was interviewing Rep. Burchett at the time,” he continued.
Gaetz Files Ethics Complaint Over Claim
Gaetz went on to claim Congress has seen nothing like this since the pre-Civil War era, calling for a swift investigation.
The Florida congressman’s disdain for McCarthy is not new. Gaetz served as the main voice leading the charge to remove McCarthy as House Speaker.
The latest allegations add to friction within the GOP as the party’s most conservative members argue against working with Democrats in any way, including opposition to the House’s recently passed continuing resolution.