Controversial Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) expressed satisfaction on Monday over a new report from CNN in which former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) suggested that the dysfunction brought by members like Gaetz to the House is a reason why many top Republicans are retiring this year.
“I love this @cnn article,” Gaetz wrote on X, adding:
The fundamental premise is that I’ve made congress so miserable for so many members that they are leaving.
Wonderful!
We can’t save America with the current Republican team. We have to get tougher and smarter. We need newer, bolder voices in the House.
If you want to be a Paul Ryan / Kevin McCarthy Republican – THEY DON’T WORK HERE ANYMORE!
The “institutional knowledge” I’m accused of wiping out is often knowledge your lawmakers acquire to enrich themselves, trade stocks and sell out We the People.
“The next phase of our plan is to REPLACE the droves of retiring members with America First Patriots,” added Gaetz, who is a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump.
Twenty-three House Republicans have either retired already this Congress or announced they will not seek reelection, including five committee leaders. “The caliber and timing of some of the retirements has raised alarm bells, particularly those who are giving up coveted committee gavels that some work their whole career to achieve,” noted the CNN article Gaetz enjoyed so much, which added:
Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington is not even term-limited yet in her plum post, while China select committee Chair Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, a 39-year-old who was once seen as the future of the party, recently announced he was leaving Congress after facing intense blowback for voting against impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
And on the Energy and Commerce Committee alone – a highly sought-after assignment – there are eight Republicans who are retiring.
“Those are big losses for us. It is alarming. Especially for the institutional knowledge … So, that’s a big deal,” outgoing Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) told CNN.
Gaetz, who the House Ethics Committee is investigating for allegedly having sex with a minor, led the charge to oust McCarthy last year, resulting in a weeks-long battle that ground the House to a halt.
McCarthy spoke to CNN about all the retirements, saying, “It’s unfortunate because you think of the brain trust you are losing. I blame a lot of the ‘crazy eights’ led by Gaetz. They want to make this place dysfunctional to try to wear people out. It’s very sad … It makes it more difficult for getting people to run in the current climate.”
Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), the head of the Freedom Caucus and one of the eight who voted to oust McCarthy, added, “Brain drain? Why don’t you survey the country and see if there is any brain to drain in Congress. Congress has a 20% approval rating. Most of what we do to the country is bad. I think the retirements are a wonderful thing … I have no concerns, zero concerns. We probably need a few more retirements.”
