Rep. Tony Gonzales went after his Republican colleagues Sunday while defending House Speaker Mike Johnson against motion to vacate threats.
Mr. Gonzales, Texas Republican, voted yes on Mr. Johnson’s four-bill foreign aid package that passed the House on Saturday and will be voted on by the Senate Tuesday. The bills passed with the support of Democrats, as conservatives in the House voted against it.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, has continuously threatened Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, with an ouster. Many speculated that the passage of more Ukraine aid would be the straw that broke the camel’s back for Ms. Greene, but she has yet to call for a vote to remove him.
“Look, the House is a rough and rowdy place, but Mike Johnson is going to be just fine,” Mr. Gonzales said on CNN’s “State of the Union Sunday. “I served 20 years in the military. It’s my absolute honor to be in Congress, but I serve with some real scumbags.”
He called out Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Bob Good by name. He referenced sex-trafficking allegations against Mr. Gaetz — allegations the Florida congressman has denied and which the Justice Department after an investigation declined to pursue. He is currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee.
In response, Mr. Gaetz shot back in an X post, saying “occasionally-Republican” Mr. Gonzales, who is up for reelection, is down in the polls to his challenger, Brandon Herrera.
SEE ALSO: Respect for Speaker Johnson increased after foreign aid approved, says Rep. Michael McCaul
“Probably because he called @chiproytx’s strong border plan ‘UNCHRISTIAN’,” Mr. Gaetz, Florida Republican, wrote. “‘Unhinged Outburts’ is one of the final phases a politician goes through prior to defeat. The Texas Republican Party has rightly censured Tony for supporting gun control and amnesty.”
He called for Texas voters to vote for Mr. Herrera in the runoff election in late May.
Mr. Gonzales said Mr. Good endorsed his primary opponent who he called a “neo-Nazi.”
“These people used to walk around with white hoods at night. Now they’re walking around with white hoods in the daytime,” he said.
He said he wasn’t surprised that some of his House colleagues voted against aid to Israel, but was “encouraged” to see his fellow Republicans supporting “our allies on the battlefield.”
The House passed Israel aid Saturday in a 366-58 vote.
The Washington Times has reached out to Reps. Gaetz and Good for comment.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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