Rep. Richard Hudson stopped a confrontation on the U.S. House floor late Friday between two fellow lawmakers, Matt Gaetz and an ally of Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy, a California Republican, walked into the chamber at 10 p.m. believing he had the votes needed to become the next House speaker. Four days and 13 votes had already passed since the House convened to pick its top leader.
But things quickly took a turn.
Both Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, and Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, voted “present” instead of casting a vote for one of two nominees — McCarthy or Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York — or choosing someone else.
Their choice meant McCarthy didn’t have enough votes to win the speakership on the 14th vote.
Rep. Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican, and McCarthy stood nearby talking to them. Several lawmakers gathered around them as tensions rose and it became clear McCarthy wouldn’t secure enough votes.
Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican from Alabama, came toward the group from the back of the chamber with Hudson, a North Carolina Republican, following close behind.
Rogers leaned into Gaetz’s row, began speaking and reached toward the Florida Republican.
Hudson grabbed Rogers by the shoulder and then the face — yanking him to the back of the chamber and off the House floor.
McCarthy walked to the front of the room, as someone shouted, “we’ll do this again!”
Neither Boebert nor Gaetz changed their vote, forcing the House into a 15th vote to select a speaker.
That vote allowed McCarthy to at last secure enough votes to become speaker, causing the chamber to erupt into cheers.
The House could not swear in its members until a speaker was selected.
Source: Read Full Article
