BREAKING: Kevin McCarthy leaving the House at the end of the year after 17 years in Congress

The Republican former House Speaker said that while he would no longer hold elected office, he would continue to serve America "in new ways."

In a piece for the Wall Street Journal, McCarthy touted his accomplishments during his 17 years in Congress, before explaining why he had decided to leave.

"No matter the odds, or personal cost, we did the right thing," he said. "That may seem out of fashion in Washington these days, but delivering results for the American people is still celebrated across the country."

"It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways. I know my work is only getting started."

McCarthy vowed to "continue to recruit our country's best and brightest to run for elected office," adding that the GOP "is expanding every day, and I am committed to lending my experience to support the next generation of leaders."

McCarthy became House Speaker in January after a contentious vote that went 15 rounds. As part of that voting process, and the negotiations he undertook in order to gain the votes of his party, McCarthy vowed to reinstate the Jeffersonian motion, which enabled just one House member to bring a motion to have him removed.

That member was Florida Republican Matt Gaetz, who in October brought the motion to remove McCarthy over what Gaetz alleged were secret deals to push through funding for the war in Ukraine. Gaetz, along with a small number of the GOP, voted to oust him. The entire Democrat caucus went along with it. The House was still speakerless as Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 Israeli's and kidnapping over 200.

McCarthy attempted to defend his seat against the ouster, but no aid came his way, not from those in his party who decided to remove him nor among the Democrats with whom he had worked for so long.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.