House Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed his opposition to the release of the House Ethics Committee report concerning allegations related to former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the attorney general.
Johnson stated that he believes releasing the report would be a breach of protocol and plans to request that the Ethics Committee withhold its publication. He emphasized that such actions would set a negative precedent and are not in line with the established procedures of the House.
Despite questions about whether the report should be shared with the Senate Judiciary Committee, Johnson reiterated his stance that the report should not be made public. He pointed out that House rules dictate that the Ethics Committee does not have jurisdiction over former members, making the issue irrelevant in his view.
It was noted that Gaetz resigned from his House seat following Trump's announcement of his nomination for the attorney general position.
Johnson mentioned that he intends to discuss the matter with House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, emphasizing his busy schedule but expressing his determination to address the situation.
The Speaker's firm stance against the release of the report underscores the ongoing debate surrounding the handling of allegations and the transparency of congressional proceedings.
