\n<\/p>\n
Kevin McCarthy<\/strong><\/a> and Matt Gaetz<\/strong><\/a> have never been bosom buddies, but the relationship between the GOP congressmen has been on a distinct downward spiral over the last 10 months. Some reasons for that likely include:<\/p>\n And we\u2019re guessing a reconciliation is not in the cards any time soon, given McCarthy\u2019s recent suggestion that Gaetz is guilty of everything he\u2019s been accused of and belongs behind bars!<\/p>\n Speaking to Politico about the divisiveness among Florida Republicans in Congress and the little power they hold, the former House Speaker said<\/a>, \u201cYou have a cross section [of lawmakers]. You have [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, who belongs in jail, and you have serious members.\u201d McCarthy did not specify what, exactly, Gaetz should be in jail for, but the odds are extremely high he was referencing the sexual misconduct business. In 2021, the Justice Department opened<\/a> an investigation into Gaetz for allegedly having sex with an underage girl and traveling across state lines. Shortly thereafter, CNN reported<\/a> that the congressman had shared images of naked women with colleagues on the House floor and allegedly claimed to have slept with the women in the photos. (Gaetz has denied allegations against him.) While the DOJ ended its investigation of Gaetz and did not charge him with any crimes, the House Ethics Committee revived<\/a> its own investigation in July 2023.<\/p>\n In response to McCarthy\u2019s jail remarks, Gaetz told Politico, \u201cTough words from a guy who\u00a0sucker punches people\u00a0in the back. The only assault I committed was against Kevin\u2019s fragile ego.\u201d (After McCarthy allegedly<\/a> elbowed Representative Tim Burchett<\/strong> in the kidneys earlier this month, a claim McCarthy denies, Gaetz called for an Ethics Committee investigation into the ex-House Speaker.)<\/p>\n And the comment about belonging in jail wasn\u2019t the only Gaetz-related shot McCarthy fired this week! Speaking to the Daily Mail<\/em> about the reopened investigation into the Florida congressman, McCarthy said<\/a>, \u201cFrom what people have said and written about it, it seems even worse than [George] Santos.<\/strong>\u201d Santos, of course, has been charged by federal prosecutors of stealing donors\u2019 identities and spending campaign cash on himself. He has pleaded not guilty, but that may nevertheless lose him his seat in Congress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n