INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
(Reuters) - A handful of Republicans in the U.S
House of Representatives on Tuesday ousted Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, as party infighting plunged Congress into further chaos just
days after it narrowly averted a government shutdown.The 216-to-210 vote marked the first time in history that the House removed its leader,
with eight Republicans voting with 208 Democrats to remove McCarthy
Republicans said they planned to meet on Oct
10 to discuss possible McCarthy successors, with a vote on a new speaker planned for Oct
He has risen to power by collecting special interest money and redistributing that money in exchange for favors
Republican-controlled House brought Washington to the brink of a catastrophic default on U.S
debt of $31.4 trillion and a partial government shutdown.Republicans control the chamber by a narrow 221-212 majority, meaning they can
House to a halt, with another government shutdown deadline looming Nov
17 if Congress does not extend funding.The White House said it hoped the House would move swiftly to choose a replacement speaker, a
position second in line to the presidency after the vice president.UNCHARTED WATERSThe vote left Congress in uncharted waters as it
scrambles to update farm-subsidy and nutrition programs, pass government funding bills and consider further aid to Ukraine.It was unclear
who would succeed McCarthy.McCarthy had repeatedly angered Democrats in recent weeks, including by launching an impeachment inquiry into
Biden and on Saturday by giving them little time to read a stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown that he needed their votes
to pass.Democrats could have saved McCarthy but, after considering it, said they would not help Republicans resolve their own problems.Other
Republican leaders like Steve Scalise and Tom Emmer could possibly be candidates, though neither has publicly expressed interest
Representative Patrick McHenry was named to the post on a temporary basis.The last two Republican speakers, Paul Ryan and John Boehner,
retired from Congress after clashes with their right wing.In debate on the House floor, Gaetz and a handful of allies criticized McCarthy
reporters she voted to remove McCarthy as speaker because he broke promises to her on improving access to birth control and supporting a
McCarthy ultimately secured the gavel after 15 rounds of voting over four days
To win the job, McCarthy agreed to rules that made it easier to challenge his leadership.McCarthy supporters have said Gaetz was motivated
by a hunger for publicity, a chance to win higher office or resentment over an ongoing ethics probe into possible sexual misconduct and
