CNN
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The House Ethics Committee secretly voted earlier this month to release a report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s conduct before the end of this Congress, according to multiple sources.
The report is expected to be released after the last day of House voting this year, as lawmakers leave Washington for the holidays, sources said.
Although not previously reported, the vote represents a complete reversal for the commission, which had voted along party lines in late November not to release its findings. The decision to release the report suggests that some Republicans have finally decided to side with Democrats on the issue, and it’s unclear whether the committee will change course again once it votes. is.
Gaetz was President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general when the commission voted to shelve the report last month. Gaetz has since recused himself from consideration for the Senate-confirmed post, but remains active in Republican politics, maintaining frosty relations with many within the party.
It is highly unusual for an ethics report to be released after a member leaves Congress, but it has happened several times in the past. The committee revisited the issue in private earlier this month after the feud over the report leaked into public view before Thanksgiving.
The Ethics Committee’s report accuses Gaetz of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, sharing inappropriate images and videos on the House floor, misuse of state identification documents, and diversion of campaign funds for personal use. It concludes a multi-year investigation into numerous allegations against Gates. , and/or received bribes, improper gratuities, or unacceptable gifts,” according to a commission announcement last summer.
Gaetz vigorously denied all allegations and characterized the investigation as a witch hunt.
In a post on X in response to CNN’s report on Wednesday, Gaetz emphasized that he was “totally exonerated” by a separate Justice Department investigation. And he said he had “never had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18.” CNN previously reported that the allegations were addressed in the House ethics report.
“My 30s were a time of working hard and playing hard. Not criminally, but I probably partied more than I should have early in life, womanized, drank, and smoked. It’s embarrassing. I’m living a different life now.”
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House Speaker Mike Johnson said he didn’t think the report should be made public because Gates abruptly resigned after being announced as President Trump’s first attorney general nominee and is no longer a member of Congress. Mr Johnson acknowledged he had no role in running the committee, which has traditionally operated separately from the leadership. Many lawmakers believed Gaetz resigned to cover up the investigation.
Gaetz, who was re-elected to his seat last month before resigning, said he had no plans to return to Congress next year.
“I’m still going to join the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I’m not going to join the 119th Congress,” he told Charlie Kirk in an interview last month.
“I’m going to fight for President Trump. As always, I’m going to do whatever he asks of me. But I think eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” he said. spoke.
He also recently announced that he will be joining One America News Network in January.
A committee spokesperson did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
This story has been updated with additional responses.
