A congressional ethics committee couldn’t agree on whether to release a report about Matt Gaetz, who’s been nominated by Donald Trump to be the next U.S. Attorney General. The committee met for two hours on Wednesday, but couldn’t make a decision.
Representative Susan Wild said that although they voted, the committee was still split along party lines. They plan to meet again on December 5, and it’s unclear whether the report will be released before then.
As Gaetz prepares for a confirmation hearing with the Senate, there’s growing pressure to make the findings public. Gaetz, a former congressman from Florida, has been under investigation for sexual misconduct, which he denies.
He’s also been accused of other serious allegations, including sex trafficking, but he was never charged. Despite this, Gaetz has remained confident and said his meetings with senators are going well.
The ethics committee was ready to vote on whether to release the report, but Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives shortly after Trump’s nomination. This raised doubts about whether the committee could even release the report, as they can only investigate current House members.
Committee Chairman Michael Guest, a Republican, said he has reservations about releasing the report because it’s still being reviewed. He mentioned the possibility of sending it to the Senate Judiciary Committee instead, but that remains uncertain.
The committee’s closed-door meeting drew a lot of attention, with reporters waiting outside for any updates. Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, a Democrat, expressed hope that the committee would eventually find the right solution.
Gaetz, who’s known for being outspoken and a strong supporter of Trump, has been a controversial figure in recent years. While some of his former colleagues support his nomination, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Gaetz is still facing serious allegations.
The Justice Department had previously looked into accusations about him having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, but the case was dropped.
The ethics committee has been investigating Gaetz for several other claims, including sexual misconduct, drug use, and accepting improper gifts. Two women have said that Gaetz paid them for sex, and one even claimed to have witnessed him with a minor at a 2017 party.
Gaetz continues to deny the allegations and says they are politically motivated. “Lies were weaponized to try to destroy me,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “These lies resulted in prosecution, conviction, and prison – for the liars, not me.”
Trump has shown no sign of backing down on his pick, with a spokesperson saying that Gaetz is the right man for the job and will end the “weaponization” of the justice system.
Senators from both parties have called for the ethics report to be shared with the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat, said the information could be important for Gaetz’s confirmation process. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley agreed, saying transparency is key to a fair and speedy decision.
