House Republicans continue to be rocked by division as members argue over whether Kevin McCarthy should become speaker. According to Breitbart, there are allegations that some are considering a nuclear option.
The website pointed to a tweet in which Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman claimed Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as well as Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry are willing to let New York Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries take the gavel in place of McCarthy.
MORE NEWS —
In a private mtg yesterday, GAETZ, BOEBERT, PERRY told McCarthy they wanted their OWN legal entity in House to wage lawsuits.
The group also told McCarthy that they don’t mind if the speaker vote goes to plurality and @RepJeffries is elected bc they’ll fight him. https://t.co/UMSJX0DmFI
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2023
"It is a blatant lie that we would back Rep. Jeffries at any time," the statement read. "Congressman Perry is fighting to end the status quo, and he remains open to any Republican candidate who will end the dysfunction in Washington."
"We’ve worked in good faith for months, and, if Kevin McCarthy accepts the offer to reach 218, we expect him to govern in good faith — and that includes no retaliation against those who have worked with us on behalf of the American People to change the status quo in Washington as their voters sent them here to do," it went on to add.
In a subsequent tweet, Sherman said that he spoke with McCarthy on Thursday morning regarding his goals going forward.
McCarthy was quoted as saying that he is focused on bringing disparate members of the Republican caucus together and hopes to "unite the team."
🚨🚨🚨NEWS — I just caught up w @GOPLeader on his way into the party meeting. I asked him what his goal is today
He is planning to take it to the House Freedom Caucus even though he’s down votes. pic.twitter.com/PavJV2qSNW
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 3, 2023
What's more, the longtime California Republican implied that some of his opponents are focused on personal betterment rather than public service.
"The difficult part here is we went out to the American public with a commitment to America to fight for them, not for a few members here to fight for their own personal," McCarthy told Sherman. "This is about the country, and we’ll have to show the difference."
Fox News reported that for his part, former President Donald Trump has thrown his full support behind McCarthy for speaker.
"Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House Members to VOTE FOR KEVIN," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
He stressed that the ongoing fight risks turning "a great triumph into a giant and embarrassing defeat."
