The US House of Representatives has ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his job in a historic vote.
The 216-210 vote late on Tuesday (US time) came as infighting among McCarthy’s fellow Republicans plunged Congress into further chaos just days after it narrowly averted a government shutdown.
it is the first time the House has removed its leader, driven by a relatively small group of right-wing Republicans. No clear successor has emerged.
McCarthy will be temporarily replaced by fellow Republican Patrick McHenry, who is a key ally. His name was on a list McCarthy was required to compile in case of a vacancy.
Tuesday’s rebellion was led by Matt Gaetz, a far-right Republican from Florida and McCarthy antagonist. He accused the party leader of not doing enough to cut federal spending, and launched an incendiary attack on McCarthy after he had been ousted.
“He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favours,” Gaetz said.
“We are breaking the fever and we should elect a speaker who is better.”
It was the latest moment of high drama in a year in which the Republican-controlled House has brought Washington to the brink of default and the edge of a partial government shutdown.
McCarthy’s party controls the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority, meaning it can afford to lose no more than five votes if Democrats unite in opposition.
That happened on Tuesday, as eight Republicans voted with 208 Democrats to remove McCarthy.
In debate on the House floor, Gaetz and a handful of allies criticised McCarthy for relying on Democratic votes to pass temporary funding that headed off a partial government shutdown.
“We need a speaker who will fight for something – anything – other than staying on as speaker,” said Republican Representative Bob Good.
McCarthy’s supporters, including some of the chamber’s most vocal conservatives, said he had successfully limited spending and advanced other conservative priorities even though Democrats control the White House and the Senate. They warned their gains would be at risk if they removed their leader.
“Think long and hard before you plunge us into chaos, because that’s where we’re headed,” Republican Representative Tom Cole said.
Democrats said they would not help Republicans resolve their own problems. They broadly view McCarthy as untrustworthy after he broke an agreement on spending with Democratic President Joe Biden, and are angry at his decision to OK an impeachment investigation of the president.
“Let them wallow in their pigsty of incompetence,” Representative Pramila Jayapal said before the vote.
Gaetz was one of more than a dozen Republicans who repeatedly voted against McCarthy’s bid for speaker in January. McCarthy ultimately secured the gavel after 15 rounds of voting.
To win it, he’d had to agree to rules that made it easier to challenge his leadership.
McCarthy supporters have said Gaetz was motivated by a hunger for publicity, a chance to win higher office, or resentment over an ongoing ethics probe into possible sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. Representative Garret Graves pointed out that he has been fundraising off his effort to oust McCarthy.
“It’s disgusting,” he said.
Gaetz, who has denied wrongdoing and said he is not motivated by a dislike of McCarthy.
“This isn’t a critique of the individual – it’s a critique of the job. The job hasn’t been done,” he said.
-with AAP
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