Back in January, Kevin McCarthy struck a deal to become House Speaker that gave any one member of Congress the power to force a vote on whether to remove him.
On Tuesday, one Republican – Matt Gaetz – did exactly that. And, with the help of Democrats, he succeeded in kicking him out.
Now most Republicans are shaking their heads, wondering where they go next. All but a handful of them voted to keep Mr McCarthy in his job, but all it took was a few rebels to throw the chamber into chaos.
For months, Mr McCarthy had worked to keep his right flank in line.
He had agreed to open an impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden. He had backed away from a spending deal he struck with Democrats earlier in the year to raise the debt limit. He had let conservatives attach right-wing provisions to spending bills and other legislation.
All his efforts were in vain. When the Speaker relied on Democratic support to keep the government temporarily funded at the weekend, the die was cast.
Read more at BBC.com
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