WASHINGTON – Republicans on a U.S. House ethics panel on Wednesday rejected the release of a long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz, a former House lawmaker now nominated for U.S. attorney general, according to the panel’s top Democrat, Susan Wild.
The outgoing congresswoman from Pennsylvania told According to reporters, the evenly divided 10-member House Ethics Committee took part in the vote but split along party lines. The report includes findings on whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug employ, as well as other allegations related to gifts and privileges.
Announcement by President-elect Donald Trump last week His intention to nominate Gaetz to the nation’s top law enforcement position sparked a whirlwind on Capitol Hill over whether the ethics panel should release its report after Gaetz abruptly resigned his Florida seat, effectively halting the investigation.
Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest said after the lengthy closed-door meeting that “the committee had not reached agreement on publishing the report.”
Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, told reporters the panel would meet again but gave no details.
Shortly afterwards, speaking to a group of reporters, Wild vehemently denied Guest’s statement, calling it “inaccurate.”
“I don’t want the American public or anyone else to think that Mr. Guest’s characterization of what happened today is an indication that there was unanimity or consensus among the committee on this issue,” Wild said.
Committee investigation since 2021
Gaetz, who denies all allegations, was a member of the committee probe since April 2021. The former congressman was also under investigation by the Justice Department for sex trafficking Was never charged.
ABC News reported On Wednesday, it disclosed financial records reviewed by the Ethics Commission that show Gaetz paid about $10,000 between 2017 and 2019 to two women who were later witnesses in both the Justice Department’s ethics and investigations.
An attorney for a woman who testified before the committee said NBC News On Friday, his client witnessed Gaetz having sex with a minor at a house party in Orlando.
House Democrats called on the ethics panel to release the report. Democratic Reps. Steve Cohen of Tennessee and Sean Casten of Illinois introduced resolutions in the House behind schedule Wednesday to force the panel to release its findings.
Several Democrats wrote to Guest and Wild on Tuesday that “there is precedent for the House and Senate ethics committees to continue their investigations and release findings after a member resigns amid a scandal.”
“Given the seriousness of the allegations against Representative Gaetz, withholding the results of your investigation could jeopardize the Senate’s ability to provide fully informed, constitutionally required advice and consent regarding this nomination,” the lawmakers wrote in letter headed by Casten and signed by dozens of others.
The nomination for U.S. attorney general requires consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee and a favorable confirmation vote in the Senate. Republicans will gain control of the chamber in January.
Vance accompanies Gaetz to meetings
Across the Capitol, Vice President-elect JD Vance led Gaetz into private meetings with Senate Republicans.
Senator Lindsey Graham, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a statement Wednesday morning after his “very good meeting” with Gaetz.
“This process will not be a rubber stamp nor will it be driven by a lynch mob,” the South Carolina Republican said. “My record is clear. I tend to discount presidential cabinet decisions unless the evidence points to disqualification. I fear that the process surrounding the Gaetz nomination will turn into an angry mob and unconfirmed allegations will be treated as if they were true.”
A half-hour before his meeting with Vance and Gaetz, Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told reporters that the House should “follow the rules” regarding the release of the Gaetz ethics findings.
“Now I don’t know exactly what the house rules are. I was told that the report is not published if a member resigns, but I also read that there were exceptions to this. So the short answer is: I don’t know,” said Kennedy, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“However, the Judiciary Committee staff properly vets all of our nominees, and my experience in Washington has been that this place leaks like a wet paper bag,” Kennedy continued. “So my guess is that whatever is out there will probably be released. I’m not predicting this, but I won’t faint from surprise if it happens.”
Last updated on November 20, 2024 at 6:39 p.m
