Mike Johnson has urged the House Ethics Committee to refrain from releasing its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The Florida Republican, who resigned from Congress after being tapped by President-elect Trump as attorney general, is at the center of mounting pressure on the panel to disclose its findings.
When asked if the committee should make the report public, Johnson expressed his opposition, calling such a move a violation of tradition and protocol. He stated that releasing the findings would set a harmful precedent and emphasized his intention to discuss the matter with Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest.
Critics speculate Gaetz’s resignation may have been a strategic move to end investigation
Johnson cautioned that issuing the report following Gaetz’s resignation, which placed him beyond the committee’s jurisdiction, could lead to huge complications. He described the situation as potentially opening a “Pandora’s box,” marking a clear departure from how House leadership typically handles matters under the Ethics Committee’s purview.
Earlier in the week, Johnson had distanced himself from involvement in the report’s release, stating it was beyond the Speaker’s role. However, his later efforts to intervene signal a change in approach. On Friday, Johnson defended the practice of withholding Ethics reports for individuals no longer serving in Congress, despite historical examples of exceptions, such as the 1987 case of Rep. William Boner.
Johnson reiterated that Congress should not investigate or publish reports about former members, stressing the importance of preserving this standard. Critics speculate Gaetz’s resignation may have been a strategic move to halt the investigation, though Johnson suggested it was aimed at minimizing disruptions to the slim House majority.
The Ethics panel had been investigating Gaetz for years, probing allegations of misconduct, including claims of sexual misconduct and drug use, which Gaetz has consistently denied. Though the Department of Justice declined to pursue charges related to some allegations, the Ethics Committee’s findings remain uncertain. A scheduled vote on the report’s release was canceled, leaving the panel’s next steps unclear.
Lawmakers across party lines have indicated they want access to the Ethics panel’s findings before confirming Gaetz’s appointment to the Cabinet. Speculation continues over the committee’s plans and the timeline for its decision-making.
