The remarks, confirmed to NBC News by two sources in a closed-door meeting, reflect renewed tension within the House Republican ranks as a government shutdown looms.
Frustration boiled over in a closed-door House GOP meeting Thursday morning when Speaker Kevin McCarthy all but dared his detractors to file the “motion to vacate” the speaker’s chair and try to remove him.
In the meeting, McCarthy told House Republicans, “If you want to file a motion to vacate, then file the f—ing motion,” according to two sources in the room who confirmed the comments to NBC News.
It was a nod to members including Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and others who are threatening to force him out of the speakership if he doesn’t comply with their demands, like putting certain bills on the floor and not passing a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the month.
The reason a particular block of Republicans want to remove him , is they believe he’s moving too slow with Impeaching the President, in what world do you imagine removing McCarthy does anything but supercharge this, and many many more groundless through headline grabbing impeachment attempts to come?
McCarthy already has a tenuous hold on the speaker (remember 15 rounds) and no one is strong enough to replace him. If there is another round of voting for speaker I don’t think anything gets done during this session because the government will shut down. Getting a budget bill passed will eat up the rest of the session.