In a secret bipartisan vote, the House Ethics Committee released its report on former Representative Matt Gaetz. After Trump tapped Gaetz to serve as Attorney General in his upcoming administration, he resigned from his position as a House Representative. However, amid the investigation’s controversy, Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration for the position.
Many believed the investigation would disappear now that Gaetz no longer held a major government position. However, the panel of five Republicans and five Democrats secretly voted earlier this month to release the report. The public can expect to see it in the coming days.
The decision is a surprising reversal of the committee’s decision in November to withhold the report’s findings from the public. This came after a deadlock vote split down party lines. Republicans had stood firm in their fight against releasing the report. Earlier this month, the House floor voted on the subject, with all but one Republican agreeing to keep the report sealed.
The report is expected to drop following the House’s yearly vote to keep the government open. The investigation looked into Gaetz’s alleged sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, and acceptance of bribes as a sitting congressman. The panel heard testimony from several women who came forward alleging Gaetz paid them for sex in Florida. One woman claimed Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl as well.
Following the news on Wednesday, December 18, Gaetz took to X to air his grievances. “It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank, and smoked more than I should have earlier in life,” he wrote. “I live a different life now.” Gaetz also argued that releasing the investigation would be unfair to him as he is no longer a sitting member of Congress and cannot say in his defense on the floor. It is rare for ethics reports to come out after a Congress member’s resignation – though not unprecedented. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has warned against releasing the probe, calling it a “terrible precedent.”
The Justice Department’s investigation into Gaetz’s potential sex trafficking of underage girls yielded no charges earlier this year.
