The House Ethics Committee has not reached an agreement to release its report on current and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), the committee chairman told reporters Wednesday.
The bipartisan committee met behind closed doors for more than two hours. Chairman Michael Guest (R-Mississippi), who was the last to leave the room, said, “There was no agreement by the committee to release the report.''
The other lawmakers who left the bill said little, with Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Maryland, telling reporters that deliberations were ongoing but “I can't discuss it.”
Wednesday's meeting comes on the same day that Gaetz, R-Florida, is visiting his Senate office on Capitol Hill to begin the confirmation process to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ).
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Congressman Matt Gaetz is the subject of multiple investigations (Photo provided by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The House Ethics Committee's investigation into Gaetz ended abruptly last week when he resigned from Congress, hours after being nominated as President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general nominee.
“Matt will end weaponized government, secure our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans' badly shattered faith and trust in the Department of Justice,” President Trump said in a statement last Wednesday. Deaf,” he said.
The investigation began in 2021 and stems from accusations of illegal drug use and sex with a minor.
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President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz to be attorney general. (Alison Robert Poole/Getty Images)
The Justice Department, which had named Gates in charge, ultimately did not bring charges. Gates himself has consistently denied all wrongdoing.
But senators key to Mr. Gaetz's bid to become attorney general have expressed interest in seeing the report before making a decision, and the normally secretive ethics committee releases the report. There is growing pressure to do so.
In particular, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said he didn't think the report should be made public.
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U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the report should not be made public. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Mr Johnson said on Friday: “The Speaker of the House of Commons has no involvement in those things.'' The report is currently in some draft stage, responding to media reports that a report on former MPs was due to be published. “There is,” he said.
“I don't think that's the right thing to do. It's not in accordance with our rules and traditions, and there's a reason for that. It would open up Pandora's box, and it's not healthy for the institution. I think that is my position.”
Meanwhile, Illinois Democratic Rep. Sean Kasten announced plans to introduce a privilege resolution to force a House vote on releasing the Gaetz report.
“The allegations against Matt Gaetz are serious and credible, and the House Ethics Committee has conducted a thorough investigation over the years to uncover the truth,” Kasten said in a statement. “This information must be made public so that the Senate can provide the constitutionally necessary advice and consent.”
