Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) had some sharp words for his fellow House Republicans, while also dismissing concerns that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) could be ousted by a motion to vacate.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filed a motion to vacate against Johnson last month but did not file it as a privileged resolution, meaning it did not require immediate action. Greene has threatened to trigger the motion to vacate since she filed it, but Gonzales said on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that he does not think it would be successful.
“He will survive. Look, the house is a rough and rowdy place, but Mike Johnson is going to be just fine,” Gonzales said.
“I served 20 years in the military. It’s my absolute honor to be in Congress, but I serve with some real scumbags,” he added.
Gonzales then went after Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Bob Good (R-VA) specifically. He referenced allegations made against Gaetz about underage sex trafficking — which Gaetz has denied, and the Department of Justice declined to prosecute after an investigation. The House Ethics Committee is reportedly investigating Gaetz over alleged sex crimes.
Gonzales also jabbed at Good for endorsing his primary opponent, calling the challenger to his House seat a “neo-Nazi.” He also said he was “encouraged” that most Republicans supported the foreign aid package, specifically pointing to the Israel part of the aid bills.
“Look, what didn’t surprise me that some of these folks voted against aid to Israel, but I was encouraged to see by a nearly 10 to one mark, that Republicans supported our allies on the battlefield,” Gonzales said.
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The Israel aid bill passed in the House of Representatives 366-58, with 193 Republicans joining in the majority to approve the legislation.
The motion to vacate Johnson has only three sponsors, Reps. Greene, Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and several Democrats have publicly said they would not support a move to oust Johnson.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Good and Gaetz for comment.