News media first reported the investigation on Friday, October 9, 2015.
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The changes were made on Thursday, the same day McCarthy unexpectedly dropped out of the race for Speaker of the House. Rumors the California congressman had an affair with Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) picked up steam this week.
McCarthy’s was deemed Boehner’s natural successor.
A few say he felt he would not win the backing of fellow Republicans after comments about the Benghazi committee’s supposed role in affecting Hillary Clinton’s results in the polls.
Both Ellmers and McCarthy have strenuously denied it. But the rumor has spread around Capitol Hill and appears to have at least indirectly affected the chaotic events of the week.
Washington Free Beacon reporter Lachlan Markay was the first report about a DHS Internet Protocol IP address being behind the Wikipedia page changes.
DHS spokeswoman Marsha Catron said an investigation was underway.
McCarthy was not in the room at the time.
Charles Johnson, a renegade right-wing writer who in January alleged the two legislators were romantically involved, told DailyMail.com that he received inside information late previous year from someone close to then-House majority leader Eric Cantor.
Sources told the political news outlet that members of the Texas GOP delegation pressed McCarthy behind closed doors Tuesday.
The vote on who should be the next Speaker has been postponed for the time being, with Boehner set to stay in the role until his replacement is found. “I have no reason to not believe what McCarthy said“. Jones wrote, “Some of the most hard times have been when our Republican leaders or potential Republican leaders must step down because of Skeletons in their closets. They’re going to eat you and chew you up”.
“I know that we had a meeting with Kevin McCarthy”. How can words asking for integrity create so much trouble?
However a few reports claimed that he was forced to pull out after threats to expose his alleged affair.
Ellmers (R-NC) later issued a statement saying she was the victim of a smear campaign.
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“As someone who has been targeted by completely false accusations and innuendo, I have been moved by the outpouring of support and prayers from my colleagues, constituents and friends. Now I will be praying for those who find it acceptable to bear false witness”, Ellmers said later in an official statement.
