The House Ethics Committee has been conducting an investigation into sexual misconduct and obstruction allegations against Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. Three sources with knowledge of the committee’s work have confirmed that a vote is scheduled for Friday on whether to release its report.
The news of the scheduled vote comes shortly after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Gaetz to be the next attorney general. In response, Gaetz resigned from his congressional seat, effective immediately. In his resignation letter obtained by CBS News, Gaetz stated, “I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson informed reporters that there is an eight-week period during which Florida Governor Ron DeSantis could fill Gaetz’s seat by setting a date for a special election. This would enable the vacancy to be filled around the time the new Congress is seated.
The House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz began in June, following a statement released by the committee citing allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and bribery. Multiple sources informed CBS News that four women had reported being paid to attend parties involving sex and drugs, with Gaetz in attendance. The committee also has access to Gaetz’s Venmo transactions that allegedly show payments to these women.
Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and has dismissed the committee’s investigation as a “frivolous” smear campaign. However, there is uncertainty surrounding whether the panel will vote on releasing the report now that Gaetz has resigned from Congress.
In a similar case involving former Senator John Ensign, an ethics committee report became public after Ensign resigned amid allegations of an extramarital affair. It remains unclear if this precedent will apply to Gaetz’s situation in the House, raising questions about the potential release of the report.
One of the testimonies given to the House Ethics Committee came from a woman who claimed to have had sexual relations with Gaetz at a 2017 party when she was 17 years old. Her attorney has urged the committee to release its report on Gaetz, emphasizing the importance of transparency in such cases.
Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Dick Durbin called on the House Ethics panel to share the report and all relevant documentation on Gaetz with his committee. Durbin highlighted the significance of the information in evaluating Gaetz’s potential confirmation as the next attorney general of the United States.
Republican Senator John Cornyn also expressed interest in reviewing the House Ethics Committee’s report on Gaetz, emphasizing the importance of not limiting the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation. The Senate Judiciary Committee will be responsible for conducting confirmation hearings for the nominee for attorney general.
Some of the allegations under review by the committee were previously investigated by the Department of Justice, which looked into potential violations of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice laws by Gaetz. Despite the investigation, no charges were filed against him. The House Ethics Committee resumed its own investigation into Gaetz following the Justice Department’s decision.
Gaetz has consistently blamed former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for the probe, and he played a leading role in the movement to remove McCarthy from his position as speaker.
As the House Ethics Committee prepares to vote on releasing its report on Gaetz, the outcome remains uncertain. The decision could have significant implications for Gaetz’s future and his potential nomination as attorney general. With various stakeholders calling for transparency and accountability, the committee’s actions will be closely monitored in the coming days.
