Panel deliberates behind closed doors as Vice President-elect JD Vance lobbies for Gaetz’s attorney general nomination.
The House Ethics Committee is set to convene privately on Wednesday to determine whether to release a comprehensive report stemming from its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial pick for attorney general.
Bipartisan calls have emerged in the Senate for access to the Ethics Committee report before Gaetz’s Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing next year. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), a staunch Trump ally, noted that the committee’s jurisdiction applies only to current members. Gaetz resigned last week following Trump’s announcement of his Cabinet selection.
“The Ethics Committee’s purpose is to oversee members of this body,” Johnson emphasized. “Matt Gaetz is no longer a member, and we should respect that boundary.”
Ethics Probe Findings
The Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz spanned three years and scrutinized allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to obstruction of justice. The bipartisan inquiry, led by Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Susan Wild (D-Pa.), examined claims that Gaetz paid women for sex, used illicit drugs, accepted improper gifts, and offered favors to personal acquaintances.
The committee reportedly interviewed two women who claimed Gaetz paid them for sex at private parties in Florida, where prostitution is illegal. One woman also alleged witnessing Gaetz engaging in sexual relations with a 17-year-old, though she believed he was unaware of her age at the time.
Attorney Joel Leppard, representing the women, stated, “My clients want the report made public. They want the truth to be known.”
Gaetz has denied all allegations, while Trump’s transition team dismissed them as “baseless.” The Justice Department concluded its related investigation earlier this year without pressing charges against Gaetz.
Political Implications
Despite mounting scrutiny, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to Gaetz’s nomination, actively lobbying GOP senators to support the appointment. Vice President-elect JD Vance is also engaging with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for Gaetz and other Cabinet nominees, including Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth.
Senate Republicans have expressed mixed reactions, with some insisting on reviewing the Ethics Committee’s findings before moving forward with the confirmation process.
Options for the Committee
The Ethics Committee has several pathways regarding the report:
- Public Release: The panel can vote to make the findings available to the public.
- Senate Referral: The report could be forwarded to the Senate for review.
- No Action: The committee may choose to take no further steps.
Ranking Member Susan Wild argued for transparency, citing precedents where the Ethics Committee released reports after a member’s resignation.
“The public deserves to know the results of this investigation,” Wild said.
Historical examples include the 1987 case of Rep. Bill Boner (D-Tenn.) and the 1990 case of Rep. Buz Lukens (R-Ohio), where findings were released post-resignation to maintain public accountability.
If the committee declines to publish the report, House members may still force a vote on its release. A similar effort occurred in 1996, when Democrats pushed for the disclosure of a report on then-Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The Ethics Committee’s private meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET Wednesday, with no public comments expected immediately.
