House Republicans voted on Thursday to block a Democrat-led effort to release a long-awaited Ethics Committee report on allegations against former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. The resolution from Democrats that would have required the public release of the report was effectively shut down by House GOP leaders who set up a vote to refer the resolution to the committee, delaying the report's release.
Matt Gaetz, who has denied any wrongdoing, withdrew from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump's pick for attorney general last month. Some Senate Republicans had called for the release of the ethics report as part of the vetting process for Gaetz's nomination.
Republicans on the House Ethics Committee previously voted behind closed doors not to release the results of the investigation. The committee met again on Thursday but did not provide any information on whether the report would be released, stating only that they were 'continuing to discuss the matter.'
House Speaker Mike Johnson has argued against releasing the report, citing that Gaetz is no longer a member of the House, and therefore, the ethics panel no longer has jurisdiction over him. Gaetz resigned from Congress shortly after being announced as Trump's pick for attorney general.
The Ethics Committee had been investigating allegations against Gaetz, including claims of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, accepting improper gifts, dispensing special privileges, and seeking to obstruct government investigations. Gaetz has vehemently denied all allegations brought before the committee.
