House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday explained his opposition to releasing the House Ethics Committee's report on Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida).
Johnson, R-Louisiana, made the comments during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream. He argued that releasing such a report after Gaetz's resignation risks opening a “Pandora's Box.” Gaetz resigned from Congress last week, shortly after President-elect Trump nominated him to be U.S. attorney general.
Mr. Bream first asked Mr. Johnson whether he was aware of the contents of the ethics report regarding the alleged sexual misconduct.
“I don't know anything about what's in the report, because the way the rules work, of course, the Speaker can't make an assessment or be involved in the Ethics Committee report. What I do know.” That means the comment that there is precedent for releasing a report is not accurate,” Johnson said.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson is defending Gaetz against demands that the House Ethics Committee release its report on the former congressman. (Getty Images)
“There's a very important reason for the tradition and the rules that we've always had, that we almost always follow, and that's that we don't issue investigations or ethics reports on people who aren't members of Congress. I'm worried it could become a problem.''The ethics committee's authority is limited to those who work in the facility, so it opens a Pandora's box. That's exactly what it's for, and I think this could be dangerous for us in the future. ” he added.
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ABC News reported On Thursday, a woman told the Ethics Committee that she had a sexual relationship with Gates when she was 17 years old. The House investigation ended with Gaetz's resignation on Wednesday.
“These claims are fabricated and would constitute false testimony to Congress,” Gaetz told Fox News Digital in response to the new report. You should see it.”
Matt Gaetz has been nominated by President Trump to be Attorney General. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The House Ethics Committee's chief counsel declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital.
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Fox News Digital also reached out to Gates' congressional office for comment.
According to ABC, the Department of Justice (DOJ) previously interviewed the woman, now in her 20s, as part of a long-running investigation into Gaetz related to sex trafficking and obstruction of justice charges.
The Justice Department ultimately did not file charges, and Gates has consistently denied all wrongdoing.
If Mr. Gates proceeds with his investigation, details of the matter may become clearer. Senate confirmation process He will now head the department that once investigated him.
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Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, indicated he would like to see the report.
“I don't think there should be any limitations on the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigations, including those created by the House Ethics Committee,” he told reporters.
FOX News' Elizabeth Elkind and Tyler Olsen contributed to this report.
