House Speaker Urges Ethics Panel to Withhold Matt Gaetz Report Amid AG Nomination

In a controversial move, House Speaker Mike Johnson has implored the Ethics Committee to keep a report on Matt Gaetz under wraps following his attorney general nomination by President-elect Donald Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has intervened to prevent the release of a report on allegations against Matt Gaetz, who is President-elect Trump's pick for attorney general, despite Senate demands for access, the New York Post reports.

Johnson's request came last Friday, emphasizing that releasing the information would create a negative precedent. He pointed out that Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress, and therefore, should not be subject to its investigative outcomes.

Senate Shows Unanimous Interest in Gaetz's Ethical Review

The Senate, containing members from both political parties, expressed a strong interest in examining the ethics report. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin specifically requested the preservation and disclosure of the investigation's findings.

Senators Dick Durbin and John Cornyn highlighted the significance of the report for Gaetz’s upcoming confirmation process, arguing it could reveal important details about his suitability for the attorney general position.

Postponed Vote Delays Ethics Report Release

The House Ethics Committee had scheduled a vote on whether to release the report, but this was delayed without a new date set. The confidentiality of Ethics Committee proceedings, underscored by Representative Michael Guest, adds another layer of complexity to the issue.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused Gaetz of undermining him by not halting the ethics investigation, revealing internal conflicts within party ranks.

Prior Investigations Surround Gaetz

The Justice Department previously closed a sex trafficking case against Gaetz without filing charges. However, his associate Joel Greenberg admitted to sex trafficking a minor and implicated Gaetz in related activities.

Witnesses before the Ethics Committee testified about Gaetz’s involvement in parties where sex and drugs were allegedly exchanged, painting a troubling picture of his past behavior.

Historical Precedents Add Pressure

The release of an ethics report after a congressman's resignation is not unprecedented. In 1987, the case of Rep. Bill Boner involved similar post-tenure disclosures, setting a historical precedent that Durbin and others are keen to follow.

Johnson and others fear that releasing the report could damage the institutional integrity of the House by targeting former members unfairly.

Quotes Highlight Tension Over Gaetz's Nomination

Mike Johnson defended his stance, asserting that investigating someone no longer in Congress sets a dangerous precedent. "I’m going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report because that is not the way we do things in the House...I think that would be a terrible precedent to set," Johnson stated.

Durbin countered, "The sequence and timing of Mr. Gaetz’s resignation from the House raises serious questions...House Republicans cannot allow this valuable information from a bipartisan investigation to be hidden from the American people."

"Make no mistake: this information could be relevant to the question of Mr. Gaetz’s confirmation as the next Attorney General of the United States and our constitutional responsibility of advice and consent," Durbin added.

Continuing Debate Over Ethics and Transparency

John Cornyn supported the Senate's right to review all pertinent materials, saying, "I think that there should not be any limitations on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including whatever the House Ethics Committee has generated."

Matt Gaetz has vehemently denied all allegations, calling them "invented" and an attempt to smear his reputation. "These allegations are invented and would constitute false testimony to Congress...This false smear following a three-year criminal investigation should be viewed with great skepticism," Gaetz defended himself.

As the debate continues, the outcome of the ethics report and Gaetz’s confirmation hangs in the balance, marking a critical juncture in U.S. political and legal discourse.