Gaetz calls McCarthy ‘unhinged,’ accuses him of misogyny

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) called Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) “unhinged” and accused him of being misogynistic in his latest attacks against the California Republican.

Gaetz ramped up his ongoing feud with McCarthy in an appearance on Newsmax’s “The Balance” Tuesday, criticizing the Speaker’s response to recent criticism from Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.).

“And this is also a pattern, Eric, because when I was critical of Kevin’s leadership, ‘Oh, I’m just an ethically challenged congressman.’ But then when Victoria Spartz, a congresswoman from Indiana, came forward and said ‘No, I too agree. I agree with Matt Gaetz that it’s Kevin McCarthy who failed us.’ Well then he said, ‘Well, she’s just a quitter,’” Gaetz told host Eric Bolling. 

“Now this is a woman who said that she was going to be returning to her family because they needed her and Kevin called her a quitter,” he continued. “Meanwhile, when a man in Congress actually left in the middle of his term, Chris Stewart, Kevin McCarthy didn’t call him a quitter. So he’s been reckless and unhinged and rattled and misogynist in how he’s attacked those who are making a substantive argument.”

Spartz called McCarthy a “weak Speaker” Monday as he faces a divided GOP conference unwilling to fully back a continuing resolution proposal. In response to these comments, McCarthy said if Spartz, who is not running for reelection in 2024, “is concerned about fighting stronger, I wish she would’ve run again and not quit.” 

“I mean, I’m not quitting; I’m gonna continue to work for the American public,” McCarthy added.

A spokesperson for Spartz said while McCarthy’s response to her criticism was “neither helpful nor appreciated,” she will not be put off by his remarks. 

“The Congresswoman has been working hard for many years to raise two children, establish a successful business and serve fellow Americans. Statements which were not very well thought through such as those made by the Speaker are neither helpful nor appreciated. However, the Congresswoman does not get offended easily and will continue to fight for our Republic,” the spokesperson told The Hill. 

Gaetz’s comments, meanwhile, are just the latest attack exchanged between the Florida lawmaker and McCarthy. Gaetz has been threatening to put a motion on the floor to remove McCarthy from the Speakership if the California Republican does not meet a series of demands on spending and legislation.

Gaetz has faced criticism over whether he would actually file the motion, but he has remained adamant that he will follow through on his threats. McCarthy expressed his frustration to his Republican colleagues in a GOP conference meeting last week, but he said Sunday that he will not be deterred by the potential move to remove him.

“If you want to file a motion to vacate, then file the f‑‑‑ing motion,” McCarthy said during a closed-door GOP conference meeting Thursday, according to Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.).

McCarthy said that Gaetz is taking him on for personal reasons, claiming that the Florida Republican thinks the Speaker is meddling in his Ethics Committee investigation. Gaetz has reiterated that McCarthy is “lying” about this suggestion.

“I have never asked Kevin McCarthy or anyone else to interfere in an ethics matter. I am the most investigated man in Congress. The FBI and DOJ, who hate me, investigated me for three years and didn’t find so much as an unpaid parking ticket that they wanted to bring any action against me,” Gaetz told Bolling on Tuesday.

The Hill has reached out to McCarthy’s office for comment.