Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is not giving up on his criticism of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for pushing him out of the job.
Speaking to Politico, McCarthy criticized the Florida congressman — who is now facing a primary challenge.
“Gaetz is the Hunter Biden of the Republican Party,” the former speaker in reference to President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, who facing federal tax and firearm charges.
Hunter Biden has been routinely attacked by conservative media outlets that have obtained sexual explicit images of him, conservatives have also accused him of various crimes involving political corruption.
By contrast, McCarthy said of Gaetz’s challenger, “He’s got an opponent who is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, trained at Pensacola, went to the Naval Academy and flew jets to defend us while Gaetz was getting kicked out of high school, buying coke and paying minors for sex.”
NEW: Kevin McCarthy isn’t finished with Matt Gaetz, who he wants to oust from Congress. Let’s just say there’s no hate b/w the two.
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) May 8, 2024
McCarthy told me: “Gaetz is the Hunter Biden of the Republican Party…He's got an opponent who is pro-life, pro-second Amendment, trained at…
Politico notes, “McCarthy was referring to the focus of an ongoing House Ethics Committee probe: allegations that Gaetz had sexual contact with minors. The committee is in possession of a sworn statement that alleges Gaetz was present at a party where illegal drugs were used, ABC reported. Gaetz has denied the drugs and sex-related allegations; he graduated from Niceville High School in Florida, according to his biography on the nonpartisan site Legistor.”
“The Department of Justice conducted its own investigation as part of a sex trafficking probe and, according to Gaetz’s lawyers and DOJ officials, decided not to bring criminal charges,” it added.
Gaetz shot back at McCarthy telling the outlet, “I whooped Kevin McCarthy in Washington. I don’t think he’s going to fare better when I’m playing home-field advantage in North Florida.”
Gaetz led the charge to oust McCarthy as speaker last year.
And the Florida congressman blamed him for picking up a primary challenger.
