Rep. Michael Guest (R-Mississippi), chairman of the House Ethics Committee, told The Hill on Tuesday that the committee will meet this week and that no further meetings are scheduled for the 118th Congress. He indicated that the ethics committee's deliberations had ended. Report to former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Florida).
“We met earlier this week, but no additional meetings are scheduled at this time,” Guest said.
Because committees are meant to operate in secret, Guest declined to say whether the committee met on Monday or Tuesday or what was discussed there. . Asked whether the committee would vote again on releasing the Gates report, he declined to comment. However, Guest said the committee could schedule additional meetings if any issues arise and the need arises.
The Hill spoke with Guest after meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) in his office. The guests did not elaborate on what they discussed. Chairman's room and A spokeswoman for the Ethics Commission declined to comment.
News of this week's Ethics Committee meeting, and no additional meetings scheduled, indicate the committee is done with its work for the 118th Congress. In recent weeks, the ethics committee has been dominated by heated debate over whether to publish its report. Gates. Next week will be the last week of the House of Representatives scheduled session for the 118th Congress.
The Ethics Committee has been investigating Gates for about three and a half years, looking into allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use. Gates has denied any wrongdoing.
But the investigation was abruptly halted when Gates resigned from Congress to become President-elect Trump's attorney general and later withdrew his name from consideration. Gaetz said he will not take the oath of office during the 119th Congress.
His nomination led to bipartisan pressure on the committee to release a series of studies on Florida Republicans.
The Ethics Committee met twice last month to discuss the Gates report, then adjourned the meeting without releasing the report. The group voted to release the report during the first of two meetings, but the vote was rejected.
After last week's meeting, the commission said in a statement that it “continues to discuss this issue,” and Guest told reporters this was not its last meeting.
But on Tuesday, Guest told The Hill that the group held its last meeting this week, but that the panel could arrange additional meetings if there were any concerns.
“There are currently no meetings scheduled. If additional meetings are needed, members can gather together for one right away. However, as next week is the last week of the session, no additional regular meetings will be scheduled. It’s not scheduled,” Guest said.
The committee's deliberations on the Gates report have apparently ended, but the move comes after House Republicans last week crushed Democratic efforts to force the committee to release its findings. Ta.
Rep. Sean Kasten (D-Ill.) and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) pushed for a resolution asking the committee to release information about Gaetz, and Congress referred it to the committee. It was decided to do so.
Guest's comments also capped off a remarkable few weeks for the Ethics Commission. Rep. Susan Wilde (Pennsylvania), the top Democrat on the Ethics Committee, missed last week's meeting after being pursued as the source of leaks to the press. The Hill previously reported on Gaetz's investigation. Guest would not comment if Mr. Wilde was present at this week's meeting.
Updated at 8:10pm EST.
