Gaetz blows up at McCarthy in closed-door House GOP meeting: 'Fireworks'
Gaetz accused McCarthy of being behind an influencer campaign to smear him
By Elizabeth Elkind Fox News
Published September 28, 2023 1:46pm EDT
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., confronted Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., at a closed-door House GOP conference meeting on Thursday morning.
A source familiar with the meeting said "fireworks" occurred when Gaetz rose to accuse McCarthy and his allies of waging an online campaign against him using "MAGA influencers paid to attack Matt" on social media.
McCarthy denied the claim and dismissed Gaetz. "McCarthy said he wouldn’t waste his time on Gaetz like that," the source told Fox News Digital.
Another source present at the meeting said that McCarthy told Gaetz, "Tomorrow I'm spending my time giving $5 million [to GOP candidates and members] to expand our majority. What are you doing to help our majority?"
The second source said that other members also had expressed frustration with Gaetz. One lawmaker told Gaetz to "f--- off," the source said, while another called him a "scumbag."
Gaetz seemed to confirm to reporters he and McCarthy had had the exchange when he exited the meeting.
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