House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the release of a rough draft of the House Ethics Committee’s report on Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general. Johnson stated that the report is not yet completed and should not be made public since Gaetz has already left Congress. He expressed concerns about the Ethics Committee using its resources to target private citizens like Gaetz.
The House Ethics Committee was investigating allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and other wrongdoings against Gaetz. Gaetz resigned from Congress just days before the panel was set to vote on releasing the report. Johnson believes that the Senate should not rely on this report for Gaetz’s confirmation as attorney general, as it was prepared for limited purposes by the Ethics Committee.
While some, like Sen. Markwayne Mullin, believe that the report should be released to ensure a thorough vetting process for Gaetz, others have raised doubts about its credibility. Gaetz had previously been under federal investigation for alleged involvement in the sex trafficking of a minor, but no charges were filed. A recent claim from a woman’s lawyer alleged that Gaetz had engaged in sexual activity with a minor at a house party in 2017. Gaetz has vehemently denied all allegations against him.
The controversy surrounding Gaetz’s past and the Ethics Committee’s report has raised questions about the confirmation process for high-level government positions. The Senate will play a crucial role in evaluating Gaetz’s qualifications for the position of U.S. attorney general, and the release of the Ethics Committee’s report could impact this process. It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold and what implications it may have for Gaetz’s future in government.
