The House Ethics Committee secretly voted earlier this month to make public its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz before the end of this Congress, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation. The report is now expected to be released after the final day of votes this year, as lawmakers leave Washington for the holidays.
This vote marks a significant change from late November when the committee had voted along party lines not to release the results of its investigation. The decision to now release the report came after some Republicans sided with Democrats. It’s unclear whether the committee might change its decision again.
When the committee initially voted to withhold the report, Gaetz was nominated by President Donald Trump to be attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew from consideration for the position but remains involved in GOP politics, despite tensions within his party.
It is unusual for an ethics report to be released after a member has left Congress, but it has happened before. The committee reconsidered the issue behind closed doors earlier this month after the report became a topic of public discussion.
The Ethics Committee’s report wraps up a lengthy investigation into several allegations against Gaetz. These included accusations of sexual misconduct, drug use, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, using campaign funds for personal purposes, and accepting bribes or gifts. The committee announced the investigation last summer.
Gaetz has denied all allegations, calling the investigation a “witch hunt.”
In response to the investigation, Gaetz posted on X, emphasizing that he was “FULLY EXONERATED” by a separate Department of Justice inquiry. He also denied any sexual contact with someone under 18, a claim mentioned in the Ethics report. Gaetz admitted to partying and making mistakes in his younger years but denied any criminal behavior.
Speaker Mike Johnson has said he doesn’t believe the report should be released, since Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress after resigning in connection with his nomination for attorney general. Johnson has acknowledged that the Ethics Committee operates independently of leadership. Some believe Gaetz resigned to avoid further scrutiny of the investigation.
Gaetz, who was re-elected to his seat before resigning, has stated he has no plans to return to Congress in the future. He said he will continue to support Trump, but his time in Congress is over. Gaetz also recently announced he will join One America News Network in January.
