As the debate surrounding the release of Matt Gaetz's ethics report intensifies following his resignation from Congress and selection by President-elect Donald Trump as the nominee for attorney general, it is important to consider the precedents that Democrats are citing in support of making the report public.
In response to Speaker Mike Johnson's argument against releasing the report, it is worth noting two significant precedents:
1987: The House Ethics Committee issued an initial report on Rep. Bill Boner even after he had left Congress to become Nashville's mayor. The committee maintained that while ethics rules prevented them from continuing the investigation post-resignation, they were not prohibited from disclosing the information gathered up to that point. The committee emphasized that the public's right to be fully informed outweighed the general policy against releasing reports in such cases.
2011: Shortly after Sen. John Ensign's resignation, the Senate Committee on Ethics released an interim report detailing its findings up to that point. The report highlighted that despite Ensign's departure stripping the committee of jurisdiction to impose disciplinary actions, the Special Counsel submitted the report for the committee's consideration in line with the Senate's Resolution and Rules.
These historical instances underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in government proceedings, emphasizing the public's right to access information on ethical matters involving elected officials even after they have left office.
