Trey Gowdy blasts Gaetz after McCarthy ousting: ‘He delights in hacking Republicans’

Former Republican South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy accused Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) of taking pleasure in “hacking Republicans” after he spearheaded the ousting of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from his speakership.

McCarthy was ousted as House speaker in a historic 216-210 vote, which saw eight Republicans join all present Democrats in the motion to vacate. Gowdy, speaking on Fox News’s Fox and Friends, said the motion to vacate offered by Gaetz was because of a “personal vendetta” the Florida man has against the California Republican.

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“He’s had a personal vendetta against Kevin. I was there when he got there. He’s had a personal vendetta. I’m not a psychiatrist, I can’t tell you why he can’t stand to see others succeed,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy then attacked Gaetz for defending former Democratic California Rep. Katie Hill, who had allegedly had affairs with several of her staffers, and for defending Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), after reports in 2021 alleged she mistreated her staff. The former congressman also claimed that Gaetz has a “crush” on Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

“Matt Gaetz defended Katie Hill, remember who gave us the term ‘throupling,’ he defended her, he defended congresswoman Jayapal, he’s got a crush on AOC, but yet he delights in hacking Republicans. I can’t tell you the psychiatric diagnosis, I can just tell you it is dangerous for the Republican Party,” Gowdy said.

Gowdy also went after the other seven Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy from the speakership, saying McCarthy was forced to the whims of “the eight craziest people in the conference.”

“How in the world do you govern that gallery of rogues?” Gowdy asked.

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McCarthy said he would not seek the speakership again, setting up a battle in the House Republican Conference. House Republicans plan on voting for a new House speaker on Oct. 11, meaning the body will be without its constitutionally mandated leader.

Republicans considering taking up the speaker’s gavel include House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK), and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). A candidate forum is scheduled to be held on Oct. 10 for the House GOP, ahead of the conference deciding whom to nominate for speaker.