Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz finds himself at the center of another controversy as he takes on the House Ethics Committee in court.
According to Fox News, Gaetz filed a lawsuit Monday in federal district court in Washington, D.C., seeking to prevent the release of an Ethics Committee report concerning allegations of misconduct, including claims of sexual relations with a minor and illicit drug use.
The lawsuit comes after Gaetz's resignation from Congress following his nomination as attorney general by President-elect Trump, a position from which he later withdrew.
The House Ethics Committee's investigation, spanning multiple years, reached an abrupt conclusion last month due to his departure from office.
Gaetz's attorneys maintain their client's innocence while challenging the committee's authority to release any findings.
They argue that since Gaetz is no longer serving in Congress, the committee lacks jurisdiction over him. The legal team emphasizes that releasing the report would cause immediate and irreversible damage to Gaetz's reputation.
The former congressman's lawsuit specifically addresses the timing and procedural aspects of the committee's actions. His attorneys contend that the committee improperly continued its investigation after his resignation and apparently voted to release materials without proper notice to their client.
In response to the committee's recent vote to release the report, Gaetz took to social media platform X to defend himself. He 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.
Gaetz has been forthright about certain aspects of his personal life while maintaining his innocence regarding criminal allegations. He addressed his past behavior on social media, acknowledging some personal choices while firmly denying any illegal conduct.
The former congressman specifically addressed allegations about his relationships and financial dealings with women. He emphasized that while he had sent funds to women he dated or knew, he never engaged in inappropriate conduct with minors.
In a notable admission about his past lifestyle, Gaetz stated:
My 30's were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It's embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.
The lawsuit represents a critical juncture in the ongoing saga surrounding Matt Gaetz's political career. His legal challenge against the House Ethics Committee aims to prevent the release of potentially damaging information that his attorneys claim is false and beyond the committee's current jurisdiction.
The controversy has evolved from an ethics investigation into a legal battle that could set precedents for how congressional committees handle investigations of former members. As of Monday, the House Ethics Committee had not responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit, leaving the timing and outcome of this legal challenge uncertain.
