The House of Representatives on Thursday night rejected a Democratic proposal to force former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) to release an ethics report.
Rep. Sean Kasten, D-Ill., introduced a measure known as a “privilege resolution” to release the Gates report, forcing House leadership to introduce the resolution within two legislative days.
House members voted to refer Kasten's resolution to the relevant committees for consideration. But it is highly unlikely that the Republican-led committee will take it up, meaning the move essentially defeats the Democratic effort.
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Former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) speaks at a campaign rally for Republican presidential candidate President-elect Trump on October 12, 2024 in Coachella, California. (Tama Mario/Getty Images)
Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress last month after his bid to become President-elect Donald Trump's next attorney general failed.
His resignation also comes just before the House Ethics Committee is considering releasing its report to the Florida Republican Party.
The committee had been investigating allegations against Gates for several years involving sex with minors and illegal drug use.
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President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz to be attorney general, but that has since fallen apart. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
But that jurisdiction ended with Gates leaving Congress, and Republicans have shown little appetite to release a report on someone who defies tradition and leaves Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) told reporters last month that he opposed releasing the report.
“I don't think that's the right thing to do. It doesn't follow our rules and traditions.” There's a reason for that. “That would open up a Pandora's box, and I don't think that's healthy for the facility,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) opposed the release of the report. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee has met twice since Gaetz's resignation, but both times they failed to reach an agreement on whether to release the report.
The most recent meeting took place hours before Thursday's vote.
Gates has consistently denied wrongdoing. A federal investigation into the allegations ended without charges against Gaetz.
