Florida Representative Matt Gaetz (R) during a Fox News segment said he had no hard feelings about Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), after Rogers appeared to lunge at Gaetz after he declared “present” during the 14th vote for House Speaker.
On Friday night, as GOP leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) approached Gaetz to discuss the possibility of his support in the next round of voting, tensions flared and Gaetz could be seen pointing his finger at McCarthy.
In the commotion that followed, Rogers lunged at Gaetz and had to be restrained by Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC).
When asked during a live Fox News segment whether he would be able to “work together” with Rep. Rogers in the future, Gaetz responded in the affirmative.
“Mike Rogers is going to be a terrific chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and we share a deep commitment to our national defense, to our men and women in uniform,” Rep. Gaetz said.
“And, of course, in a late-night moment of high drama, people can have moments of frustration. But Mike Rogers and I have a six-year productive working relationship,” he went on to say. “We’re going to work together wonderfully going forward. And I don’t think there should be any punishment or reprisal just because he had an animated moment.”
“He has my forgiveness and certainly is someone who’s done great things for our national defense and will continue to do those great things,” Rep. Gaetz concluded.
