House Ethics Committee Reverses Course, to Release Matt Gaetz Ethics Report Within Days

Dec 18, 2024, 03:42 PM

The U.S. House Ethics Committee has secretly voted to release its report on the investigation into former Representative Matt Gaetz before the end of the current Congress, reversing an earlier decision. The report, expected to be made public within days after the House's final day of votes, concludes a three-year probe into allegations against Gaetz, who is 42 years old. The investigation examined claims of sexual misconduct, including allegations involving a teenage girl, drug use, misuse of campaign funds, sharing inappropriate images on the House floor, misusing state ID records, and accepting improper gifts or bribes. Gaetz has responded to the news, denying any wrongdoing and stating, "I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18." He acknowledged past behavior, saying, "In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated—even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years." The decision to release the report suggests that some Republicans sided with Democrats on the matter.