Gaetz saga moves toward final act in House
Source: The Hill
11/30/24 5:00 PM ET
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) time in Congress may be over, but the saga over the House Ethics Committee’s report on its years-long investigation into him is in its final act. Two Democrats who moved to force votes requiring the Ethics panel to release its report have signaled they will continue that push, which could tee up votes on the matter this week. And the Ethics Committee itself is scheduled to have another meeting on Thursday, during which the Gaetz matter will almost certainly come up.
The result will be either the report’s blockbuster release, or a door slam keeping it under wraps. The committee investigated Gaetz over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, and accepting improper gifts, among other claims. Gaetz has vigorously denied wrongdoing, including allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. The Department of Justice declined to charge Gaetz after investigating similar matters.
The Ethics Committee, which generally does not have jurisdiction over former lawmakers, in November declined to release its not-quite-complete report shortly after President-elect Trump picked Gaetz to be attorney general. Gaetz has since withdrawn from consideration for the Cabinet role but said he won’t return to Congress. Ranking member Susan Wild (D-Pa.) said the vote on releasing the report, which would have required at least one Republican in support, was along party lines.
The panel, though, did vote to formally “complete” the report, a source told The Hill — and suggested that they could hold a vote on releasing it since it would be “ready” by the next scheduled meeting on Dec. 5. “Once it’s released, you guys are gonna devour it,” the source said before Gaetz withdrew his name, referring to the press. “So, it has to be done right.”
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/5011031-gaetz-ethics-report-vote/
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