Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced competing privileged resolutions on Tuesday, requiring a vote within two legislative days. Casten’s resolution called for the release of the report, while Cohen’s sought both the release and preservation of the documents. “Resigning from Congress should not allow Members to avoid accountability for allegations as serious as those faced by Matt Gaetz. The Ethics Committee has often released reports on former Members,” Casten argued.
Interest in the House Committee on Ethics’ long-awaited investigation into sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz surged last month after President-elect Trump nominated him as U.S. attorney general. However, Gaetz withdrew from consideration after it became apparent he would face significant challenges in the Senate confirmation process. Trump subsequently nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) for the position.
Before Congress’ Thanksgiving break, the Ethics Committee met but decided against releasing the report, despite objections from Democratic members of the bipartisan panel, The Post noted. While the committee did not officially confirm what they were voting on, Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and ranking member Susan Wild (D-Pa.) strongly suggested they were deliberating the potential release of the report, the outlet added. The Ethics Committee met again on Thursday, ahead of the vote on Casten’s resolution, but did not release the report or disclose specifics about the meeting, The Post said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is not at all in support of releasing the report. “Someone who is no longer a member of Congress, we are not in the business of investigating and publishing a report of people who are not a part of this institution,” the speaker told reporters Friday. “The ethics committee’s jurisdiction is for sitting members of Congress.” It should also be noted that Joe Biden’s Justice Department investigated the allegations and could not find any evidence to warrant charges.