Washington Two people with knowledge of the situation told NBC News that the House Ethics Committee has decided to make a report outlining the results of an investigation into former Representative Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., public. This is a turnaround from last month, when the panel couldn’t agree on whether to publish the report.
During its years-long inquiry, the committee examined claims that Gaetz had used illegal drugs and committed sexual misconduct, received inappropriate gifts, provided preferential treatment to those with whom he had personal ties, and impeded the House investigation.
Following President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement last month that he planned to name Gaetz as the next U.S. attorney general, the Republican from Florida resigned from the House.
Only eight days after Trump’s declaration, Gaetzwith removed his name from candidacy for the job due to senatorial scrutiny and publicly available information regarding the testimony of women who addressed the Ethics committee. Any wrongdoing has been disputed by him.
The committee’s vote was initially reported by CNN.
Gaetz allegedly paid for sex in Florida, where prostitution is prohibited, according to the counsel for one of the women the panel interviewed. The panel was informed by the same woman that Gaetz had slept with her friend, who was 17 at the time.
The Ethics panel discussed Gaetz for hours behind closed doors just before Thanksgiving, but they were unable to agree on releasing the report. A resolution that would have compelled the Ethics committee to make the findings public was rejected by a majority of the House earlier this month.
Prior to Wednesday’s development, the Gaetz ethics issue seemed to be resolved. The report’s publication is noteworthy since Gaetz is still close to Trump, communicates with him frequently, and has considered running for governor of Florida in 2026.
Reports from investigations involving former members of Congress are typically not made public by the House Ethics Committee, but they have been on a few occasions in the past. For instance, on October 5, 1987, Rep. Bill Boner, a Democrat from Tennessee, resigned to take a position as mayor of Nashville. The following December, the Ethics Committee issued a preliminary staff report that looked into claims that Boner took bribes, misappropriated campaign funds, and concealed gifts.
The Department of Justice had also looked into Gaetz because of alleged sex trafficking.No charges were brought during that inquiry.
Gaetz attacked the committee and his accusers in a long post on Xon Wednesday, citing the DOJ investigation’s lack of charges. He denied any criminal activity once more.
“I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18,” he stated.
He continued, “It s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life,” according to him. “I live a different life now.”
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