Hunter Biden prosecutor David Weiss to appear for closed-door House Judiciary interview next month

Special Counsel David Weiss is expected to appear for a transcribed interview before the House Judiciary Committee next month, a source familiar with the situation told Fox News. 

Weiss is set to appear for his transcribed interview behind closed doors on Nov. 7, the source said. 

JORDAN WANTS SPECIAL COUNSEL DAVID WEISS TO TESTIFY PUBLICLY NEXT MONTH BEFORE CONGRESS

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, has been requesting Weiss and other federal prosecutors involved in the Hunter Biden investigation to testify before his committee for months. He initially requested Weiss meet with the committee on Oct. 11. 

Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Weiss in August to serve as special counsel with jurisdiction over the Hunter Biden investigation and any other issues that have come up, or may come up, related to that probe.

HUNTER BIDEN INVESTIGATORS LIMITED QUESTIONS ABOUT 'DAD,' 'BIG GUY' DESPITE FBI, IRS OBJECTIONS: WHISTLEBLOWER

Weiss, the U.S. attorney for Delaware, has been leading the Hunter Biden investigation since 2018. His appointment as special counsel came amid allegations that politics had influenced or hampered prosecutorial decisions in the years-long investigation into the president’s son. 

In his first move as special counsel, Weiss charged Hunter Biden with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance.

The president's son pleaded not guilty to all charges earlier this month. 

Weiss has said the investigation into the president's son is ongoing. 

HUNTER BIDEN PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FEDERAL GUN CHARGES OUT OF SPECIAL COUNSEL DAVID WEISS' PROBE

Weiss' interview comes amid House Republicans' impeachment inquiry against President Biden. 

The status of the impeachment inquiry is unclear, however, after the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as House speaker. Jordan is currently the Republican nominee for speaker, and is expected to hold a third vote for the post on Friday. 

House adjourns in disarray as support for Jordan looks weaker than expected

House Republicans are adjourning for the weekend after their designated candidate for speaker, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, appears to be well short of the support needed for a chamber-wide vote to give him the gavel.

GOP leaders are looking at potentially scheduling another member-wide conference on Monday and a full House vote sometime after that, two sources told Fox News Digital. But those sources stressed that plans are still very much tentative.

It's the second time GOP lawmakers have gathered to pick a speaker-designate in three days. Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., won an internal vote on Wednesday but stepped back from the race on Thursday night after it became clear he did not have enough support for a House floor vote. 

Jordan won 124 votes against his rival in the race, Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., who won 81.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS CHOOSE SCALISE AS THEIR CANDIDATE FOR SPEAKER AFTER MCCARTHY'S OUSTER

After the first ballot, Jordan called for a second round in which lawmakers were asked whether they will support Jordan on the House floor. 

He managed to win 152 votes on that round, but 55 Republicans still said they would vote against him. A GOP candidate for speaker would need to reach 217 votes to win a House-wide vote with no Democratic support.

Jordan is virtually guaranteed to get zero help from Democrats – he's made his career in Congress as one of the GOP's most effective attack dogs and previously served as head of the hardline-right House Freedom Caucus. He's also playing a central role in the impeachment inquiry of President Biden.

He's expected to have a hard time winning moderate support within his own conference, as well.

‘UNMITIGATED S---SHOW’: HOUSE REPUBLICANS FUME OVER SPEAKER VACANCY AMID ISRAEL CRISIS

Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., an ally of ousted ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., indicated he would be one of those steadfastly opposing Jordan on the floor.

"Our Congress is still without a Speaker of the House, because 8 Republicans joined all the Democrats to plunge our nation into chaos," Gimenez said on social media immediately after the vote, referencing McCarthy's removal. "I'm still OK. Only Kevin."

DEMS MOUNT PRESSURE ON 18 REPUBLICANS IN BIDEN-WON DISTRICTS AHEAD OF NEW HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE

But even those in Jordan's corner are not fully on the same page, it seems.

Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., one of Jordan's fellow Freedom Caucus members, said Republicans should not adjourn for the weekend.

"I know it's frustrating. I know tensions are high. I know people are a little worn out, but we should, we should be in there and we should get this thing done," Donalds told reporters after the vote. "I don't think we should leave until then. But again, that's a decision for Jim Jordan and I'm going to respect that decision."

He added that he was "surprised" at the level of support Jordan received, adding, "I thought it would be higher."

Tennessee lawmaker calls on House GOP to ‘lock the door’ and work through weekend to elect speaker

A Tennessee Republican lawmaker is calling on his party to convene and "lock the door" until a speaker is chosen — even if it means sacrificing the weekend.

Tennessee GOP Rep. Andy Ogles is sending around a dear colleague letter to his fellow House GOP lawmakers calling for the conference to continue meeting until a speaker is chosen.

Fox News Digital obtained the letter Ogles is sending around to his House Republican colleagues amid the battle for the gavel.

THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO WHY SCALISE'S SPEAKER MATH MAY NEVER WORK AND THE PUSH TO RESURRECT MCCARTHY

"As the GOP Conference remains deadlocked in the contest for Speaker of the House of Representatives, it is clear that going to the Floor and having a drawn-out competition damages our credibility with the American people," Ogles wrote in the letter Thursday.

"For the sake of good governance, we owe it to our constituents to meet later today at Conference, lock the door, and not adjourn until we have selected our new Speaker — weekends are no longer eligible for time off," the Tennessee freshman lawmaker continued.

Ogles wrote that the GOP conference "can no longer continue the song and dance routine of meeting and adjourning without coming to a consensus."

"Americans shouldn't be asked to wait longer for Congress to renew its efforts to tackle the opioid crisis, the border crisis, the spending crisis, and the barbaric terrorists responsible for the unprovoked attack against Israel," the letter reads.

"We cannot afford to allow our Caucus to appear as if it is [lackadaisical] in its approach to good governance," Ogles wrote. "I look forward to seeing each of you later tonight."

Ogles' letter comes as the House sits at a standstill without a top dog to lead the lower chamber after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's historic ouster last week.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., was chosen as the GOP's nominee for speaker on Wednesday, but he dropped out of the race Thursday night following a closed-door meeting with fellow House Republicans.

SCALISE DROPS OUT OF RACE FOR HOUSE SPEAKER

It quickly became clear after his nomination that Scalise did not have the support needed to win a House-wide vote. With just a razor-thin majority, he could only afford to lose four GOP members to still clinch the gavel without Democratic support.

House Republicans are expected to meet Friday morning to choose a new speaker candidate.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed reporting.

Trump will not visit Capitol Hill ahead of House speaker race: source

Former President Trump will not visit Capitol Hill Tuesday to meet with congressional Republicans as they consider a next speaker of the House, a source familiar with the 2024 GOP front-runner's plans told Fox News Digital.

The former president told Fox News Digital last Thursday that he would visit Washington, D.C., and Capitol Hill to take part in a House Republican Conference as members considered who would become the next speaker of the House, following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

A source familiar, though, told Fox News Digital on Monday that the president's plans had changed, and he will no longer visit Washington or Capitol Hill to take part in those discussions or the House GOP candidate forum set to begin Tuesday evening. 

Trump, early Friday morning, endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, to serve as House speaker.

TRUMP EXPECTED TO VISIT CAPITOL HILL NEXT WEEK AMID HOUSE SPEAKER RACE: SOURCES

Jordan, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is up against House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., for the role.

Meanwhile, Trump, last week, said he would accept a short-term role as speaker of the House of Representatives to serve as a "unifier" for the Republican Party until lawmakers reach a decision on who should take on the post.

McCarthy was removed as speaker of the House last Tuesday after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a measure against him known as a motion to vacate, accusing him of breaking promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January.

"I have been asked to speak as a unifier because I have so many friends in Congress," Trump told Fox News Digital. "If they don’t get the vote, they have asked me if I would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer term, because I am running for president." 

TRUMP WOULD ACCEPT HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP FOR A 'SHORT PERIOD' WHILE REPUBLICANS DECIDE ON A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT

"They have asked me if I would take it for a short period of time for the party, until they come to a conclusion – I’m not doing it because I want to – I will do it if necessary, should they not be able to make their decision," Trump said.

Trump did not specify who had asked him, although a number of GOP lawmakers have said he is their preference for speaker.

Trump stressed that if Republicans cannot come to a consensus, he would take the speakership for a short "30, 60 or 90-day period." 

"I would only do it for the party," he said, emphasizing that his focus is on his presidential campaign. 

Back in January, as the House considered who should become the speaker after Republicans took the majority in the chamber, Gaetz opted not to vote for McCarthy or Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida, who was floated as an option, but voted instead for the former president.

When Gaetz’s name was called during the seventh round of voting, he responded: "Donald John Trump." 

White House mocks ‘dysfunction-engulfed House Republicans’ amid speaker battle

The White House mocked "dysfunction-engulfed House Republicans" Friday as they work to select a new speaker of the House, while praising President Biden for focusing on the economy and the American people.

The House of Representatives, in a historic first on Tuesday, voted to remove Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as speaker of the House, after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a motion to vacate.

McCarthy’s removal came just days after a continuing resolution was agreed upon to continue funding the government, despite weeks of GOP infighting over Ukraine aid. The government was set to run out of funding on Sept. 30, but Congress managed to come to an agreement in the 11th hour.

TRUMP ENDORSES JIM JORDAN FOR SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: 'COMPLETE & TOTAL ENDORSEMENT'

Now, the House Republican Conference is considering who should serve as the next House speaker, with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., the top options.

Over at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, though, White House officials are mocking House Republicans for being unable to "get their act together." 

HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE 'FULL STEAM AHEAD' ON IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY EVEN AMID SPEAKER UNCERTAINTY

In a memo Friday, White House Deputy Press Secretary and Senior Communications Adviser Andrew Bates touted President Biden’s work in extending his "record of historic job gains powering the United States economy."

"But while the President leads by putting hardworking families first and growing our economy with solid and tested plans, House Republicans are threatening to raise costs and kill jobs as their conference devolves into chaotic bickering and they insist on radical MAGAnomics policies," Bates wrote.

"Less than one week ago, the House GOP attempted to singlehandedly shut down the American government unless they could make severe cuts to small businesses, manufacturing, law enforcement, and border security, while raising health care and housing costs," he wrote.

JORDAN GAINS SUPPORT FROM TOP REPUBLICANS FOR SPEAKER TO ‘UNITE’ MODERATES, CONSERVATIVES

Bates added: "When the government remained open, for the good of all Americans, they turned on each other and made the only chamber of Congress they control dysfunctional."

"Now, nearly a week since they unseated the Speaker of the House, congressional Republicans still can’t get their act together," he continued.

Bates warned that in the next government funding debate, Republicans could "again try to force painful cuts for the middle class onto the country, even though they support deficit-hiking tax welfare for rich special interests at the same time."

"This is a choice that boils down to economic growth and progress versus divisive infighting and losing out to countries like China," he wrote, while touting "Bidenomics" for "fulfilling the long-sought return of manufacturing to the United States — including in a multitude of red states — producing historic job growth, and lowering prescription drug and energy costs."

TRUMP WOULD ACCEPT HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP FOR A 'SHORT PERIOD' WHILE REPUBLICANS DECIDE ON A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT

"MAGAnomics represents dysfunction as House Republicans fall over each other and point fingers as they try to sell the middle class out to giant corporations and the wealthy," he wrote.

The Bates memo comes after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday, following the vote to remove McCarthy, said President Biden hopes Republicans "quickly" elect a speaker. 

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"President Biden has demonstrated that he is always eager to work with both parties in Congress in good faith on behalf of the American people," she said. "Because the urgent challenges facing our nation will not wait, he hopes the House will quickly elect a speaker." 

She added: "Once the House has met their responsibility to elect a speaker, he looks forward to working together with them and with the Senate to address the American peoples’ priorities." 

On Tuesday, House Republicans are set to meet for a candidate forum, to consider their options. They are expected to vote on a House speaker on Wednesday. 

Trump expected to visit Capitol Hill next week amid House speaker race: sources

Former President Trump is expected to head to Capitol Hill next week as the House of Representatives prepares to elect a new speaker, following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Fox News Digital has learned. 

Two sources familiar told Fox News Digital that the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner is planning to speak with members of the House Republican conference on Tuesday as they consider who will become the next speaker of the House. Another source told Fox News Digital that the details are still being ironed out. 

Another source told Fox News Digital that the plans to travel to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday will not impact the former president’s campaign stop in New Hampshire on Monday. That visit will be his first visit back to the lead-off presidential primary state in two months.

McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed as House speaker on Tuesday after Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a measure against him known as a motion to vacate, accusing McCarthy of breaking promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January.

Lawmakers voted to oust McCarthy from the speakership for the first time in the history of the House of Representatives.

Since McCarthy’s ouster, both House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., have announced bids to run for speaker of the House.

It is unclear, at this point, who Trump would throw his support behind. 

"Both of these men would represent a monumental step forward for the Republican conference," Gaetz told Fox News Digital during an interview Thursday. "I don’t believe there is a single conservative in the country who would not believe we are in a better position with either of them."

Gaetz told Fox News Digital he would be "honored to vote for either of these men on the floor."

"In conference, I’ll make a decision based on spending," Gaetz said, referring to the House GOP conference meeting next week. "And whether they’re willing to liberate us on these continuing resolutions."

Meanwhile, as Jordan gains support for speaker of the House within the GOP conference, questions are swirling as to who could take his post as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee — which is jointly leading the impeachment inquiry against President Biden, alongside the House Oversight and Ways & Means Committees — if he is elected.

Capitol Hill sources said Gaetz may have ambitions for the post himself, but when asked, the congressman offered his support to a colleague instead.

"The best person to take the Judiciary Committee if Jordan became speaker would be (Louisiana Rep.) Mike Johnson," Gaetz told Fox News Digital. "Because he’s a better lawyer than I am."

Gaetz ‘open-minded’ on rules change to eliminate motion to vacate, would support Jordan or Scalise as speaker

EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Matt Gaetz said Thursday he is "open-minded" on a House rules change that would abolish the tool he used to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker, while telling Fox News Digital that he would support either Rep. Jim Jordan or Rep. Steve Scalise as his replacement.

McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed as speaker of the House after Gaetz, R-Fla., introduced a measure against him known as a motion to vacate, accusing him of breaking promises he made to win the speaker's gavel in January.

Lawmakers voted to oust McCarthy Tuesday from the speakership for the first time in the history of the House of Representatives.

HOUSE VOTES TO REMOVE KEVIN MCCARTHY AS SPEAKER IN HISTORIC FIRST

During an interview with Fox News Digital on Thursday, Gaetz said he leans towards keeping the motion to vacate as an option, but didn't rule out supporting an effort to abolish it altogether.

"I’m leaning against changing our exiting rules for any particular purpose," Gaetz told Fox News Digital during an interview Thursday. "Though, I am open-minded and would be willing to hear anyone’s presentation if they were offering a rules change."

Since McCarthy’s ouster, both House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., announced bids to run for speaker of the House.

"Both of these men would represent a monumental step forward for the Republican conference," Gaetz told Fox News Digital. "I don’t believe there is a single conservative in the country who would not believe we are in a better position with either of them."

Gaetz told Fox News Digital he would be "honored to vote for either of these men on the floor."

HOUSE REPUBLICANS MOVE 'FULL STEAM AHEAD' ON IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY EVEN AMID SPEAKER UNCERTAINTY

"In conference, I’ll make a decision based on spending," Gaetz said, referring to the House GOP conference meeting next week. "And whether they’re willing to liberate us on these continuing resolutions."

Meanwhile, as Jordan gains support for speaker of the House within the GOP conference, questions are swirling on who could take his post as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee — which is jointly leading the impeachment inquiry against President Biden, alongside the House Oversight and Ways & Means Committees — if he is elected.

Capitol Hill sources said Gaetz may have ambitions, himself, for the post, but when asked, the congressman offered his support to a colleague instead.

"The best person to take the Judiciary Committee if Jordan became speaker would be Mike Johnson," Gaetz told Fox News Digital. "Because he’s a better lawyer than I am."

House Republicans move ‘full steam ahead’ on impeachment inquiry even amid speaker uncertainty

The House impeachment inquiry against President Biden will continue "full steam ahead," with "further action" expected in the coming days, despite the uncertainty surrounding who will take the helm as speaker of the House of Representatives following the ouster of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Fox News Digital has learned.

McCarthy, R-Calif., who served as speaker of the House from late January through October and is the first in United States history to have been voted to be removed from the post supported the launch of an impeachment inquiry against the president last month, after months of GOP-led investigations into his family’s business dealings and whether he was involved.

WHAT DOES MCCARTHY'S REMOVAL MEAN FOR BIDEN INVESTIGATIONS, DAILY FUNCTIONING OF THE HOUSE? EXPERTS WEIGH IN

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo., were tasked by McCarthy with leading the impeachment inquiry.

But even with McCarthy ousted, their investigations are expected to continue.

"Full steam ahead," a senior Judiciary Committee aide told Fox News Digital.

FLASHBACK: HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES FORMAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

Jordan announced his bid for speaker of the House on Wednesday morning, just hours after McCarthy’s ouster.

And an Oversight Committee spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the committee’s work "continues."

"The committee is continuing to review documents, records, and communications and will take further action in the coming days," the Oversight spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Ways & Means Committee concurred. 

"The Ways and Means Committee remains committed to holding the following the facts where the evidence leads," the spokesperson told Fox News Digital. 

HUNTER BIDEN RECEIVED $250K WIRES ORIGINATING IN BEIJING WITH BENEFICIARY ADDRESS LISTED AS JOE BIDEN'S HOME

Despite the speaker vacancy, subpoenas that have already been issued by committees as part of the impeachment inquiry—like subpoenas for Hunter Biden and James Biden’s personal and business bank records—as well as those issued as part of general Biden administration oversight, remain valid.

DOJ ORDERED HUNTER BIDEN INVESTIGATORS TO 'REMOVE ANY REFERENCE' TO JOE BIDEN IN FARA PROBE WARRANT: HOUSE GOP

The next steps in the investigation come after the committees hold their first joint-panel impeachment inquiry hearing last week.

The GOP lawmakers say the financial records that the Oversight Committee has obtained to date "reveal a pattern where the Bidens sold access to Joe Biden around the world to enrich the Biden family."

Fox News Digital first reported that the House Oversight Committee has learned that the Biden family and their business associates brought in more than $24 million between 2014 and 2019 by "selling Joe Biden as ‘the brand’ around the world."

The scope of the impeachment inquiry covers the span the time of Biden’s vice presidency to the present, including his time out of office.

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But beyond investigating Biden’s ties to his family’s business dealings, House Republicans are also probing the alleged obstruction of the Justice Department’s years-long federal investigation into Hunter Biden. The allegations stem from IRS whistleblowers who allege politics influenced prosecutorial steps throughout the probe.

The White House maintains that President Biden was never in business with his son and never discussed business with his son or his family. White House officials have blasted the impeachment inquiry against the president as an "evidence-free" political stunt. 

Jim Jordan announces bid for House Speaker after McCarthy ouster

House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, announced he is running for Speaker – the first GOP lawmaker to put his hat in the ring for what's sure to be a competitive race.

The House of Representatives is without an elected leader after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted by a small group of rebels within his own party.

Jordan said on Wednesday morning that he would step up to run for the job. House Republicans plan to hold a candidate forum next Tuesday and an election the following day.

He'll likely have the support of conservatives and others in the right wing of the GOP conference, but it's unclear if he can win the support of moderates.

Jordan is the leader of one of three House committees investigating President Biden and his family. That investigation culminated into an impeachment inquiry being led by the House Oversight Committee.

This story is breaking and will be updated…

What does McCarthy’s removal mean for Biden investigations, daily functioning of the House? Experts weigh in

EXCLUSIVE: Academics and experts with in-depth knowledge on how the U.S. government operates told Fox News Digital that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's, R-Calif., removal from his post on Tuesday would likely not prevent the chamber from continuing to function, which includes the investigations into the Biden family and the impeachment inquiry against President Biden.

"There's nothing that requires committees to slow down their activities, so there's no reason why the Hunter Biden investigation or the impeachment-related investigation conducted on a joint committee basis would have to slow down," said Steven S. Smith, a professor at the Arizona State University School of Politics & Global Affairs.

Smith went on to say that "not a whole lot" would happen with the investigations in the span of a week anyway, assuming the search for a new permanent speaker to replace McCarthy and take over for Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry swiftly concludes.

TOP REPUBLICAN REP. STEVE SCALISE WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO REPLACE KEVIN MCCARTHY AS SPEAKER

"Of course, members are going to be distracted. So maybe some meetings are going to be called off because members are worrying about electing a speaker for the time being. If it goes longer than the end of next week, then I think there's going to be some serious issues about how they proceed," he added.

Mark Harkins and Joseph Huder, both senior fellows at The Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. agreed with Smith.

"Today's event was historic. It was huge, but effectively it changed nothing," Huder told Fox. "The House has its rules, it's got committees, they're all empowered to do investigations, they're empowered to subpoena, to take witness testimony. The speaker, as the speaker pro tempore, has the powers of the speakership, and until he is reined in by his majority, he can use those as freely as the previous speaker."

‘SHELL SHOCKED’ KEVIN MCCARTHY WILL NOT RUN FOR HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN FOLLOWING REMOVAL

"All of the kind of institutional mechanics at the House level operate just the same as they were. They're in place, and they're not going to change just because there's no speaker. What does change are some of the politics behind the scenes, and that's where it gets very murky about what Mr. McHenry can and cannot do," Huder added.

Harkins explained that the difference between January – when the House was at a standstill prior to McCarthy's election as speaker – and now is that the rules of the House have been established and there is somebody actually acting as speaker.

"So the committees can continue their operations. There's no change there. The only possible minor change that could happen that doesn't have to do with the Biden family investigations is that the Financial Services Committee, which Speaker Pro Tempore McHenry is the chair of, may pass off to somebody else as a chair for the interim," Harkins said. 

WHO IS PATRICK MCHENRY, SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE OF HOUSE FOLLOWING MCCARTHY'S OUSTER?

"There's nothing that needs to stop the chairs of the various committees doing investigations, whether it's Oversight or Ways and Means or Judiciary, from continuing to do their work and continuing to have public hearings. So that's the biggest difference," he added.

Clint Brown, the Heritage Foundation's vice president of government relations, agreed, but told Fox the main focus of the House would be to "quickly try to settle the question of speaker."

"They'll be focused on that, at least initially. It's a tough issue to resolve. It's going to require a lot of agreement. Failing agreement early on, the chairmen are still chairmen, the rest of the elected House leadership is still elected, including the whip and the majority leader. The majority leader schedules votes on the floor. The House can continue to function if it needs to under a speaker pro tempore," he said.

McCarthy was removed from his short-lived speakership by a narrow 216-210 vote on Tuesday, with eight Republicans joining all Democrats in voting in favor of the motion to vacate that was introduced late Monday by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

According to U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., the GOP conference's plan was to have a candidate forum on Tuesday then a vote on Wednesday to decide who would succeed McCarthy.