The official release of the report by the House Ethics Committee or confirmation that it remains unreleased.

Speaker Johnson Seeks to Withhold Gaetz Ethics Report Amid Attorney General Nomination

Nov 15, 2024, 06:45 PM

After meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he will 'strongly request' the House Ethics Committee not to release its report on former Representative Matt Gaetz. Gaetz, who recently resigned from Congress and is Trump's nominee for Attorney General, has been under investigation by the Ethics Committee for allegations including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and acceptance of improper gifts. Johnson stated that releasing the report would be a 'terrible breach of protocol, tradition, and the spirit of the rule,' and that it would 'open Pandora's box.' This stance marks an unprecedented move, as there is precedent in the House for releasing reports on former members. Johnson had previously indicated that the Ethics Committee operates independently from the Speaker's office. His position has sparked debate, with some pointing out that the Senate Judiciary Committee had requested to see the report ahead of Gaetz's confirmation hearings.