Tensions rose between Matt Gaetz and his fellow Republican from Alabama, Mike Rogers, after Kevin McCarthy failed to secure enough votes during the 14th round of voting for House Speaker this Friday evening. It seems McCarthy's allies are getting sick and tired of Gaetz's grandstanding.
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks., had to be held back by one of his colleagues after confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz during the contentious 14th vote for U.S. House speaker Friday night.
Rogers, one of Kevin McCarthy’s top backers of the California congressman’s bid for speaker, had to be restrained by Rep. Richard Hudson, R.-N.C., as a visibly angry Rogers confronted Gaetz, the Republican congressman from Florida.
Rogers lunged toward Gaetz after McCarthy finished chatting with the Florida congressman, who has withheld support for McCarthy’s bid. [...]
“Rogers immediately left for the cloak room to cool off,” NBC News reported.
Gaetz voted “present” in the 14th vote McCarthy lost in his speaker bid.
McCarthy appeared to speak with Gaetz and walked off when Rogers approached Gaetz before being restrained by Hudson.
McCarthy turned and walked back up the aisle seconds toward where Gaetz was sitting after the exchange. Someone can be heard tapping a gavel as a woman says, “Stay civil.”
Here's some of CNN's reporting on the incident. They got a similar shot to the one captured by MSNBC above.
I think Adam Kinzinger summed this one up pretty well tonight.
And you've got to love this. Reaction to yet another failed vote.