The House Ethics Committee convened but opted not to release its findings on former Rep. Matt Gaetz, despite growing pressure, particularly following President-elect Trump’s nomination of the controversial Florida Republican for attorney general. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), the committee chair, informed reporters after the private meeting that there was no agreement to make the report public at that time.
During the closed-door session, multiple votes were cast, including one to release the report in full, which was rejected, and another to publish only the exhibits associated with the report, which also failed. However, a third vote, which aimed to formally “complete” the report, passed with bipartisan support.
This decision follows a week filled with speculation and heated debate, with members from both parties pushing for the release of the report, while Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) firmly opposed it. Trump’s team continued its efforts to move Gaetz’s nomination forward, despite the controversy surrounding the matter.
Rep. Casten demands public access to Gaetz report, citing its importance for Senate confirmation
Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.), the top Democrat on the committee, confirmed that the panel would meet again on December 5 to “further discuss this matter.” According to a source close to the committee, the report is expected to be ready by that date, with another vote on its release potentially occurring then.
Wild responded to Guest’s comments by clarifying that there was no consensus within the committee and that the vote appeared to be split along party lines. She pointed out the committee’s equal division between Democrats and Republicans, emphasizing that cooperation across party lines is often needed to advance proposals.
She also criticized Guest for disclosing the committee’s internal deliberations immediately after the meeting, calling it a breach of procedure. Although the report was not released, some of the information may still come to light through other channels.
Leaked details, including testimony from a lawyer representing two women who allegedly spoke with the committee, have already surfaced. These women claimed they witnessed Gaetz engaging in sexual activity with a minor at a party.
Gaetz has firmly denied the allegations, accusing his former associate, Joel Greenberg, of orchestrating false accusations to reduce his prison sentence. He also pointed out that the Department of Justice decided not to charge him with any crimes related to the case.
In an effort to obtain the report, Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) introduced a privileged resolution, which, if passed, would force the House to vote within two legislative days on whether to release the findings. Casten argued that the report is essential for the Senate’s confirmation process and emphasized that the allegations against Gaetz are both serious and credible.
Committee stalemate leaves Gaetz report unpublished, with new votes expected in December
The committee could still choose to release the report at a later date. Guest noted that several meetings are scheduled between now and the end of the year, though he expressed reservations about releasing incomplete work before it is fully finalized.
Meanwhile, Gaetz is meeting with senators to advocate for his own confirmation. Many Republican senators have expressed a desire to review the Ethics Committee’s findings, and numerous Democrats have also called for the report’s release.
The Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz, which began in 2021, centers around allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and other ethical violations. He was also investigated by the Department of Justice over claims involving a 17-year-old girl, but the DOJ decided not to pursue charges.
In a letter to the committee in September, Gaetz announced that he would no longer participate in the investigation, describing it as politically motivated and overly intrusive. He denied any sexual activity with minors and accused Greenberg of orchestrating false claims in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
Gaetz’s resignation from the House occurred the same day that Trump nominated him for attorney general, a move many Republicans saw as an attempt to trigger a special election and minimize the impact of losing a vote in the tightly controlled House.
While Gaetz’s resignation delayed the committee’s meeting, some Republicans saw it as an effort to suppress the report’s release. The committee typically concludes investigations without disclosing findings on former members, though there are exceptions.
For instance, in 1987, the committee released a report on former Rep. William Boner (D-Tenn.) after his resignation, and in 2011, the Senate Ethics Committee released its preliminary findings on former Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) following his departure from office.
Despite these precedents, Speaker Johnson has argued that releasing the report would violate a longstanding tradition of withholding information on former members.
