Chaffetz ‘disappointed on a personal level’ with Boehner’s criticism

Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) said Tuesday he was surprised and “disappointed on a personal level” that former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called him an “asshole.”

“He dropped some F-bombs and used some other choice words. And then he says it’s not personal,” Chaffetz told Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo. “Look, I harbor no personal animosity towards the speaker, quite frankly I’m a little surprised.”

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Boehner made the comment in a wide-ranging Politico profile published Sunday. Boehner was asked about Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) likely becoming the chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a position Chaffetz previously held, and a role Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was reportedly considering.

“Gowdy – that’s my guy, even though he doesn’t know how to dress,” Boehner said. “F— Jordan. F— Chaffetz. They’re both assholes.”

He added that “with Chaffetz, it’s always about Chaffetz.”

Chaffetz, who resigned from Congress in June and joined Fox News as a contributor, noted that Boehner supported his becoming the Oversight Committee chairman.

“But I think things changed because when I became chairman, I think there is an expectation for leadership that you hand over your voting card and then you get in line and do everything that they want,” Chaffetz said. “That’s not who I am. That’s not how I acted.”

“And he lumped me in with Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Jim Jordan, and I guess if he’s going to lump in there I’d be happy to go there,” Chaffetz continued. “But I was disappointed on a personal level.”