Matt Gaetz files motion to remove Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has filed a motion in the House of Representatives to "vacate the chair," setting up a vote to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

It's the first time in over 100 years that such a challenge has been filed against a Speaker. The last Speaker to be challenged in this way was Joseph Gurney Cannon, near the turn of the 20th century. Gaetz has been vague about why specifically he wants to oust McCarthy, beyond his anger over spending and general claims that he has violated agreements he made with the far-right House Freedom Caucus.

"I would think that if it took Kevin McCarthy 15 votes to become Speaker and after 8 months of a failed Speakership ... he should take a hint," said Gaetz, in response to reporters asking him what would happen if McCarthy ran the speakership again after being kicked out. It sets up a stalemate where no one can get 218 votes.

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He added that Democrats should support his resolution to remove McCarthy "for free," without any preconditions, because "if Democrats want to own Kevin McCarthy, they can have him ... if Democrats want to adopt him, they can adopt him."

He said that he would be willing to back McCarthy's second-in-command Steve Scalise (R-LA), adding that he won't "pass over" him just because he is undergoing treatment for cancer.

The vote on whether to oust McCarthy allowed under rules that McCarthy himself agreed to in order to get the votes to be elected Speaker in the first place, is required to take place within two days.