Representative Matt Gaetz has offered to grant subpoena power to the Democratic House Oversight Committee in the impeachment investigation into President Biden in exchange for supporting efforts to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, The Post has learned.
The Florida Republican’s backroom proposal would potentially allow Democrats on the GOP-led panel to choose subpoenaed witnesses in the investigation into the 80-year-old president’s involvement in his family’s overseas business dealings, and allow them to quash subpoenas from Republicans. – which can frustrate the investigation.
“It would destroy the investigation for Oversight Dems to be allowed to choose who to subpoena or veto the House subpoena,” a source close to the investigation told The Post.
A spokesman for Gaetz vehemently denied that the lawmaker had made this offer to Democrats.
“This is an absolute lie and a total fabrication,” the spokesperson told The Post.
Gaetz has appealed to Democrats to support his efforts to oust McCarthy as speaker of the House.Getty Images
Gaetz has led the charge to replace McCarthy (R-Calif.) as speaker because of his support for stopgap measures to fund the government and prevent it from shutting down, and for his measured approach to the potential impeachment of Biden.
A motion to vacate only needs one vote to initiate, and with the GOP’s slim majority in the chamber, only a handful of Republicans need to unite with Democrats to remove McCarthy.
Gaetz shamelessly courted Democrats for weeks.
A motion to remove McCarthy as speaker only needs one vote to initiate. WILL OLIVER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Earlier this month, Florida lawmakers publicly asked Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) how much Democratic support a motion to boot McCarthy would get.
“Hi, Eric. If I make a motion to remove Kevin, how is that possible? [sic] democrat vote can i expect? Asking for friends….” Gaetz said in a Sept. 10 tweet directed at Swalwell.
On Thursday, Gaetz reportedly approached several Democrats on the House floor asking the same question and floating a possible McCarthy successor, according to Politico.
On Thursday, Gaetz reportedly approached multiple Democrats on the House floor asking the same question and floated a possible replacement for McCarthy.AP
At least one Democrat told Gaetz on Thursday that part of the party would not stop him.
“He’s talked to everybody about it,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told Politico. “I told him in our caucus, in the Progressive Caucus, we don’t plan to save McCarthy — for a variety of reasons.”
Jayapal added, “We really have to get through the shutdown first.”
Rep. Democrat Pramila Jayapal told Gaetz that the Progressive Caucus won’t stop him if he tries to oust McCarthy as speaker.AP
Gaetz also approached Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), who sits on the House Rules Committee, and Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), a sprinter in the progressive caucus, according to the outlet.
Gaetz reportedly mentioned Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) as possible replacements for McCarthy.
The last straw for Gaetz may be if McCarthy takes up the bipartisan Senate shutdown resolution, which the upper chamber will vote on Saturday.
Gaetz reportedly mentioned Rules Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) as a possible McCarthy replacement. APHouse Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) was among those Gaetz mentioned as the next speaker. Getty ImagesHouse Majority Whip Tom Emmer, (R-Minn.) has also been nominated to replace McCarthy.AP
“If [McCarthy] cut a deal with Democrats to advance Joe Biden’s spending priorities, it shows the American people who really governs them. I did everything to stop the uniparty, to force them to take the vote, and to make the budget as required by law. The battle is on,” Gaetz tweeted Thursday.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
