The House Ethics Committee recently voted to release its report on the conduct of former Rep. Matt Gaetz before the end of this Congress, as revealed by sources familiar with the situation. The report is anticipated to be made public following the conclusion of the House's final day of votes for the year, as lawmakers depart Washington for the holiday season.
This decision marks a significant shift for the panel, which had previously voted along party lines in late November to withhold the findings of the investigation. The latest vote to release the report indicates a potential alignment between some Republicans and Democrats on the matter, although it remains uncertain if the committee's stance will change again following the recent vote.
When the committee initially opted to delay the report last month, Gaetz was being considered by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of attorney general. However, Gaetz later withdrew from consideration for the Senate-confirmed role. Despite his withdrawal, Gaetz continues to be active in GOP politics and has maintained strained relationships within his party.
Releasing an ethics report after a member has left Congress is uncommon, but not unprecedented. The Ethics Committee revisited the issue in closed-door discussions this month after a public dispute over the report emerged before Thanksgiving.
The report concludes a lengthy investigation into various allegations against Gaetz, including claims of sexual misconduct, drug use, misuse of state identification records, conversion of campaign funds for personal use, and acceptance of improper gifts or bribes. Gaetz has vehemently denied all accusations and labeled the investigation as a witch-hunt.
Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed opposition to releasing the report, citing Gaetz's resignation from Congress following his nomination as attorney general. Johnson, however, clarified that he does not have authority over the committee's operations, which typically function independently from leadership.
Despite being reelected prior to his resignation, Gaetz has stated that he does not intend to return to Congress in the upcoming term. Instead, he plans to continue supporting President Trump in a different capacity outside of Congress.
