A contentious investigation into former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz reaches a crucial turning point as lawmakers prepare to make their findings public.
According to Fox News, the House Ethics Committee has voted to release its report on Matt Gaetz after the final congressional votes of 2024, which are scheduled for Thursday.
The committee's multi-year probe, which examined allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and illicit drug use, was interrupted when Gaetz resigned from Congress following President-elect Trump's consideration of him for the attorney general position. Despite his departure halting the committee's jurisdiction, members have decided to proceed with the report's release.
The decision to release the report emerged from a dramatic sequence of events within the committee. House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest's public statement about the lack of agreement on the report's release prompted an unusual response from Democratic Representative Susan Wild, the committee's ranking member.
Wild challenged Guest's characterization of the committee's deliberations, stating that his comments had betrayed the process. She clarified the voting procedure, explaining that the committee's equal partisan composition requires bipartisan cooperation for any decision to move forward.
The latest development suggests that at least one Republican member crossed party lines to vote with Democrats in favor of releasing the report, breaking the previous deadlock.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed opposition to the report's release, citing institutional concerns. His stance reflects broader Republican hesitation about the precedent this could set for future ethics investigations.
Johnson shared his perspective on the matter, emphasizing the importance of maintaining established procedures. He specifically warned about the potential consequences of deviating from traditional committee practices.
Wild stated:
I'd say that a vote was taken. As many of you know, this committee is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans, five Dems, five Republicans, which means that in order to affirmatively move something forward, somebody has to cross party lines and vote with the other side – which happens a lot, by the way, and we often vote unanimously. That did not happen in today's vote.
Gaetz responded to the committee's decision with a lengthy statement defending himself against the allegations. He maintained his innocence and criticized the investigation process.
In his response on social media platform X, Gaetz emphasized that he was never charged with any crime and claimed full exoneration from the earlier federal investigation. He addressed specific allegations about his personal life while maintaining his denial of any illegal conduct.
Gaetz stated:
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me. Then, the very 'witnesses' DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I've had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I've never been charged. I've never been sued.
The House Ethics Committee's decision to release its report on Matt Gaetz marks a significant moment in this long-running investigation. The former Florida Representative resigned from Congress last month after being considered for the attorney general position in President-elect Trump's administration, though he ultimately withdrew from consideration amid Republican opposition.
