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Vendetta: Matt Gaetz accused of mixing personal animosities in speaker fight

Rep.-elect Matt Gaetz has emerged as one of House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy’s biggest detractors in the struggle over who will serve as House speaker, but his motives may be as much personal as political.

Mr. Gaetz’s critics say his iron-clad opposition is partially rooted in Mr. McCarthy’s refusal to defend him last year when he was accused of sex trafficking, a charge for which the Florida Republican was eventually cleared.

“You just get that sense,” South Carolina GOP Rep.-elect Nancy Mace told the Washington Times. “You hear the rumor that’s what all this is about.”
Even one of the GOP holdouts opposing Mr.