Matt Gaetz Demands That ‘Squatter’ Kevin McCarthy Be Evicted From Speaker’s Office ASAP

The GOP civil war between far right members of the House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is escalating further, with some suggesting that McCarthy is illegally occupying the office of the Speaker of the House and needs to be evicted ASAP. McCarthy began moving into the Speaker’s chambers on Tuesday morning.

McCarthy failed to garner the necessary 218 votes needed on Tuesday that would elevate him to Speaker of the House, and the erosion of his support is evident in the fact that his vote total went down with each ballot, according to NPR:

Tuesday’s vote was the first time in a century that the election of a House speaker took multiple ballots to complete. The longest vote in U.S. history took place in 1855, lasting 133 rounds over two months, from December 1855 to February 1856.

McCarthy faces a Republican bloc of critics who want changes to the way the House operates. Although he’s given in to many of their demands, he remains short of the votes needed.

Instead of celebrating their return to the majority on the first day, McCarthy and other GOP leaders were sorting out how to respond to an open rebellion that showcased division and cast doubt on their ability to govern.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) decided to rub salt in McCarthy’s wounds by demanding that the California Republican be evicted from the Speaker’s office he began moving into Tuesday morning.

In a letter dated Jan. 3 that he addressed to Architect of the Capitol, J. Brett Blanton, Gaetz wrote:

I write to inform you that the Speaker of the House Office located in the U.S. Capitol Building is currently occupied by Rep. Kevin McCarthy. As of this morning, the 117th Congress adjourned sine die, and a Speaker from the 118th Congress has not been elected. After three undeciding votes, no member can lay claim to this office.

What is the basis in law, House rule, or precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office? How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?

Please write back promptly as it seems Mr. McCarthy can no longer be considered Speaker-Designate following today’s balloting.

Sincerely,

Matt Gaetz
Member of Congress

McCarthy has yet to respond to Gaetz’s eviction notice.