Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made a stunning accusation during an interview at Georgetown University on Tuesday.
McCarthy, a Republican from California, claimed that he was ousted from the post last year because Rep. Matt Gaetz "slept with a 17 year old" and wanted him to end an ethics investigation into the Florida Republican.
"I'll give you the truth why I'm not speaker," McCarthy said during a Tuesday interview at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
"It's because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17 year old, an ethics complaint that started before I ever became speaker. And that's illegal and I'm not going to get in the middle of it," he continued.
The House Ethics Committee initially launched an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations into Gaetz in April 2021 when Rep. Nancy Pelosi, "D-Calif.) held the speaker's gavel.
The probe was rekindled after the Justice Department in February 2023 declined to bring charges against him.
Gaetz blasted McCarthy for the insinuation.
"Kevin McCarthy is a liar. That's why he is no longer speaker," Gaetz wrote on the social media site X. "Just ask the 224 people who voted to remove him."
McCarthy was ousted as speaker in October 2023 in a 216-210 vote, including eight Republicans in the Gaetz-led effort.
McCarthy in the interview appeared to back off his claims moments later.
"Now, did he do it or not? I don't know. But ethics was looking at it. There's other people in jail because of it. And he wanted me to influence it," McCarthy said.
