Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was one of 19 House Republicans who thwarted House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) bid to become House speaker in three consecutive votes on Tuesday, turning "what was supposed to be a day of jubilation for Republicans" into "a chaotic display of disunity within the party," The New York Times reports. Even if McCarthy manages to eke out a victory now — "an outcome that appeared remote, given the stalemate at hand — he would be a diminished speaker beholden to an empowered right flank."
Gaetz added insult to injury Tuesday night by writing — and releasing — a letter to the Architect of the Capitol, demanding to know why McCarthy was allowed to move into the House speaker's suite over the weekend. "What is the basis in law, House rule, or precedent to allow someone who has placed second in three successive speaker elections to occupy the Speaker of the House Office?" Gaetz asked. "How long will he remain there before he is considered a squatter?"
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