The House of Representatives rejected a request by Democrats to compel the release of an ethics report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Thursday evening.
Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., introduced a measure known as a “preemptive resolution” to make the Gaetz report public, a mechanism that forces House leaders to make a decision within two legislative days.
Members of Parliament voted to refer Casten’s decision to the appropriate committee for consideration. The GOP-controlled committee is unlikely to take it up, however, meaning the measure defeated the Democrat effort.
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Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., speaks at a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee, President-elect Trump on Oct. 12, 2024 in Coachella, Calif. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress last month in a now-failed bid to become President Donald Trump’s next attorney general.
His resignation also came shortly before the House Ethics Committee considered the release of its report on the Florida Republican.
The task force was conducting a years-long investigation into charges against Gaetz involving sex with a minor and illegal drug use.
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President-elect Donald Trump has said that Gaetz will be his attorney general, but that has become difficult. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
But its momentum faded when Gaetz left Congress, and Republicans have shown an eagerness to make a tradition and issue a report on someone who has left Congress.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters last month that he opposed releasing the report.
“I don’t believe that is the right thing, it does not follow our laws and traditions and there is a reason for that. That would open Pandora’s box and I don’t see that as a healthy thing for the institution,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., opposed releasing the report. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee has met twice since Gaetz resigned and failed to reach an agreement both times on whether to release the report.
The latest meeting took place hours before Thursday’s vote.
Gaetz, on the other hand, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. A federal investigation into the allegations ended without charges against Gaetz.
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