Democrats applaud as Gaetz calls McCarthy ‘squatter’ for occupying speaker’s office

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) a “squatter” for occupying the speaker’s office without having won the position, prompting cheers from Democrats as the House began the 11th ballot to elect a speaker.

Gaetz referred to a letter first reported by the Washington Examiner he sent to the Architect of the Capitol asking that McCarthy stop operating out of the office set aside for the speaker of the House. Gaetz is one of McCarthy’s staunchest foes as the California Republican tries to cut a deal with the 20 members of his party keeping him from the gavel.

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“We also have to restore to the speaker’s office an actual person who ought to be in the speaker’s office, not the squatter who is currently there,” he said. “And if the Architect of the Capitol is listening, I sent a letter because I would like to know what the basis is for letting someone occupy the speaker’s office who comes in second place 10 straight times. Is there, like, some basis in law or rule or precedent for that?”

Gaetz’s floor speech was to nominate former President Donald Trump for speaker despite Trump standing behind his endorsement of McCarthy. Gaetz supported Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) on the previous ballot.

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“I nominate President Trump because we must make our country great again. He can start by making the House of Representatives great again,” the congressman concluded.

A vote for speaker hasn’t needed more than one ballot since 1923, and the last time it took 11 ballots was in 1839.