CONTROL: GOP announces two more targets for vengeance — including one of their own

GOP announces two more targets for vengeance — including one of their own

The former president’s yappy attack-chihuahua is lashing out at authority again, targeting one fellow legislator for investigating the January 6th attack, and another for putting country over party (just once).

Matt Gaetz says that he and his Freedom Caucus pals are going to back House Speaker Kevin McCarthy into a corner.

He’ll have to either side with them on every matter, Gaetz says, or be lumped in with Democrats instead.

He’s explaining the decision by his obstructionist group to block a piece of legislation from making it to the voting stage, in order to punish McCarthy for cooperating across the aisle to get a budget deal passed.

The stalled legislation, a performative bill centered on conspiracy theories that gas stoves are in mortal peril, was less urgent than showing McCarthy he won’t have votes to pass anything — unless he bows to the demands of the subgroup of extremist legislators.

He’s also targeting another legislator — Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) — for his leadership of the January 6th Committee.

He claims that Thompson’s efforts to investigate what happened were illegal, so he’s calling for formal censure over the Committee’s work and is alleging that the Committee destroyed records. He argues:

“Lawmakers investigating the weaponization of the federal government are unable to determine which records of the January 6th Select Committee were kept or destroyed before Republicans took control of the House. Former Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, in a flagrant violation of House rules, improperly sent the records to the Biden White House and outside the rightful possession of Congress.”

Gaetz’s idol, Donald Trump, has called for punishment of those who investigated him, and the Congressman appears to be happy to work toward that goal.

As for McCarthy, this appears to be a repeat of the series of events surrounding his election as Speaker.

Gaetz and his little crew blocked that as well, holding out through more than a dozen rounds of voting before coming to some behind-the-scenes agreement, and giving grudging support.

Watch the clip below, in which he boasts to Steve Bannon about his intent to “force” McCarthy to decide whose side he’s on, and stay there.

Steph Bazzle covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph.

Stephanie Bazzle

Steph Bazzle is a news writer who covers politics and theocracy, always aiming for a world free from extremism and authoritarianism. Follow Steph on Twitter @imjustasteph. Sign up for all of her stories to be delivered to your inbox here: