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US House Ethics Committee expected to release long-anticipated Matt Gaetz report Monday

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  • US House Ethics Committee expected to release long-anticipated Matt Gaetz report Monday
  • December 23, 2024
  • Article Body Text Washington — <p>The U.S. House Ethics Committee is expected to release its long-awaited report Monday into former Representative Matt Gaetz, ending a yearslong investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with minors and use of illicit drugs while the Florida Republican was in office.</p> <p>The anticipated release comes after at least one Republican joined all five Democrats on the panel earlier this month in a secret vote to release the report about their former colleague despite initial opposition from Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, to publishing findings about a former member of Congress.</p> <p>While ethics reports have previously been released after a member's resignation, it is extremely rare. Gaetz has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, saying last week that he would have &quot;no opportunity to debate or rebut&quot; the findings as a former member of the House.</p> <p>On Monday, Gaetz filed a lawsuit seeking to block the report's release, saying it contains &quot;untruthful and defamatory information&quot; that would &quot;significantly damage&quot; his &quot;standing and reputation in the community.&quot; Gaetz's complaint argues he's no longer under the committee's jurisdiction since he resigned from Congress.</p> <p>&quot;The Committee's position that it may nonetheless publish potentially defamatory findings about a private citizen over whom it claims no jurisdiction represents an unprecedented expansion of Congressional power that threatens fundamental constitutional rights and established procedural protections,&quot; Gaetz's lawyers wrote in their request for a temporary restraining order.</p> <p>The often secretive, bipartisan panel has investigated claims against Gaetz since 2021. However, its work became more urgent last month when President-elect Donald Trump picked Gaetz as his attorney general nominee. Gaetz resigned from Congress that same day, putting him outside the purview of the Ethics Committee's jurisdiction.</p> <p>But Democrats had pressed to make the report public even after Gaetz was no longer a member and had withdrawn as Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department. A vote on the House floor this month to force the report's release failed; all but one Republican voted against it.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date December 23, 2024 10:27 EST
  • Byline Associated Press
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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