The House of Representatives thwarted Democrats' attempts to make public the long-awaited ethics report concerning former Rep. Matt Gaetz on Thursday. This decision has further clouded the future of any resolution regarding the yearslong investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.
The votes, which were mostly along party lines, came after Democrats had been advocating for the findings to be disclosed, despite Gaetz's departure from Congress and withdrawal as a nominee for attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump. Only one Republican, Rep. Tom McClintock of California, supported the effort.
Many Republicans have contended that any congressional inquiry into Gaetz ceased when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also urged the committee not to release the report, citing concerns about setting a negative precedent.
While it has been rare for ethics reports to be made public after a member's resignation, it has occurred in the past. However, the fate of the Gaetz report remains uncertain as lawmakers have limited time before the new session of Congress commences.
Pressure has been mounting on the Ethics committee, comprised of five Republicans and five Democrats, who typically operate discreetly as they investigate allegations of misconduct against lawmakers.
The status of the Gaetz investigation became uncertain when he abruptly resigned from Congress following Trump's announcement of his intention to nominate Gaetz for a Cabinet position. The committee's chairman, Rep. Michael Guest, emphasized that the urgency to release the report has diminished now that Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress and has withdrawn from consideration for the role of attorney general.
Despite the tensions surrounding the Gaetz report, with public disagreements between committee members, Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He previously stated that the Justice Department's investigation into sex trafficking allegations against him concluded without federal charges.
Notably, Gaetz's former associate Joel Greenberg, who admitted to engaging in illicit activities as part of a plea deal, was sentenced to 11 years in prison in late 2022. Greenberg's admission implicated himself and others in paying for sexual encounters with women, including an underage girl.
