'Can’t wait': Internet onboard as House Republicans consider expelling Matt Gaetz after George Santos

WASHINGTON, DC: In the aftermath of Rep Kevin McCarthy's ouster from the speakership, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) finds himself under increasing scrutiny from his fellow Republicans.

Gaetz, a key figure in McCarthy's removal, now faces discussions among some GOP members about the possibility of expelling him from Congress.

Matt Gaetz's actions and Republican discontent

The discontent stems from Gaetz's actions that hindered McCarthy and the majority of the Republican conference from advancing legislative agendas. Gaetz's ongoing investigation by the House Ethics Committee has added fuel to the fire, especially following the recent expulsion of Rep George Santos (R-NY).

Gaetz, previously an advocate for preserving the precedent of not expelling members without a criminal conviction, now finds himself at the center of discussions regarding his own fate.

He took to the House floor to speak out against Santos' expulsion last week, stating, "I rise not to defend George Santos whoever he is, but to defend the very precedent that my colleagues are willing to shatter."

A House Republican, speaking anonymously, told USA Today that members were well aware of the potential consequences of expelling Santos and gave careful thought to the precedent it might set for Gaetz's case.

“There were a number of people who voted to expel Santos with the express intent of thinking through the precedent there on what happens next,” the member said, adding, “There was a lot of forethought about the precedent and what would happen when a report on Gaetz comes out.”

The controversy heightened when Gaetz led a faction of Republicans in voting to remove McCarthy earlier this year, leading to weeks of internal strife within the Republican conference before settling on Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)

Now, GOP members are reportedly expressing more enthusiasm for Gaetz's expulsion than they did for Santos, anticipating damning findings from the House Ethics Committee's investigation into Gaetz.

The committee is probing various allegations against Gaetz, including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and misuse of campaign funds.

Despite a previous Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz, no charges were filed in February.

Social media reacts to possible expulsion of Matt Gaetz

Many on social media gushed at the prospect of Gaetz's potential ouster from Congress.

"Can’t wait for his turn in the barrel!!!!!!!!!!" one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"Right on! Cuz he’s a criminal," another wrote.

"Excellent news!" a comment read.

"I can only assume that McCarthy saw some of the evidence. I think he said it was worse than Santos," someone else offered.

"No wonder Gaetz was defending George Santos last week. He knew that if Santos was kicked out on an ethics violation, he could be next," another chimed in.

Critics argue that the House Ethics Committee, historically criticized for its slow pace, might gain renewed vigor following Santos' expulsion.

Rep Michael Guest, R-Miss., chair of the committee, stated last week, “One of the complaints that you often hear is that things often go to the ethics committee and it takes an extended period of time. I think that’s unfair for members of Congress and for members of this body.”

“It’s important that the ethics committee do their work, that they return their reports in a timely fashion,” Guest added. 

GOP's internal strife

While some GOP members are waiting for the ethics report on Gaetz before publicly calling for his ouster, others express a deep-seated animosity toward him.

In a recent closed-door conference meeting, Gaetz faced opposition from fellow Republicans, indicative of the hostility still present within the GOP.

Another House Republican told USA Today anonymously, “If there’s anything in there that’s bad, I can guarantee people will have their fangs out. He is hated in our conference. If he comes back as guilty in this ethics thing, I think he’s in trouble.”

However, concerns are emerging that some Republicans might be weaponizing the ethics committee for political purposes, raising questions about the impartiality of the investigations.

Rep Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), a member of the House Ethics Committee, stressed the independence of each case, cautioning against linking probes into different lawmakers. Rep Mike Lawler (R-NY), warned against using the committee as a political weapon, emphasizing the need for fair judgment.

Some Republicans aim to strike a balance, advocating for a thorough examination of the committee's report on Gaetz before determining an appropriate punishment.

When questioned about calls for his expulsion over McCarthy's ouster, Gaetz responded with a smile, playfully asking, "Which members?" As the House Ethics Committee investigation unfolds, tensions within the GOP continue to escalate over the potential fate of Rep. Matt Gaetz.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.