Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggested that Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) should be removed from the House Republican caucus and all of his committees last week. Gingrich expressed outrage at allegations that Gaetz had paid for sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl and had violated other House ethics rules.
Gingrich told Fox News that the House should act “immediately,” saying, “The House should start by closing the Ben Gaetz Committee, the House Republican Study Committee and removing him from all his committee assignments.”
Gingrich added that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) should also “withdraw from any consideration of his running for leadership” to send a “message that there’s a new standard.”
As of this writing, it’s unclear if the House Republican leadership will act on Gingrich’s suggestion, although many Republicans have already publicly called for Gaetz’s resignation. It is possible that the House could take action against Gaetz if the charges are confirmed.
