One House Republican is reportedly withholding donations to his caucus’ campaign arm because he says it actively recruits and supports gay primary candidates.
Citing multiple anonymous sources, Politico reported that Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ) gave that explanation Friday at a closed-door meeting when confronted about not paying dues to the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Some of Garrett’s colleagues on the House Financial Services Committee angrily responded by pointing out that the NRCC doesn’t meddle in primaries nor care about candidates’ sexual orientation, according to the report. One anonymous source told Politico that Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) also called out Garrett for having donated directly to an openly gay Republican congressional candidate from Massachusetts, Richard Tisei. McHenry led the NRCC’s candidate recruitment for the 2014 election cycle.
The report noted that Garrett, who chairs a financial services subcommittee, has been at odds with GOP leadership since he voted against John Boehner (R-OH) for House speaker and splintered from leadership on a critical procedural vote.
While the New Jersey Republican has allegedly agreed to donate to certain NRCC initiatives, he still refuses to donate to the committee itself, according to the report.
Garrett’s office did not respond to Politico’s request for comment.
