House Blocks Democrat-Led Push to Force Release of Gaetz Ethics Report

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The votes followed the House Ethics Committee’s decision against releasing the report publicly.

The House of Representatives on Dec. 5 blocked a pair of Democrat-led efforts to force the release of the House Ethics Committee’s report about former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.).

In a largely partisan vote, the House backed motions put forward by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) to refer the report back to the Ethics panel.

A 206–198 vote rejected Rep. Sean Casten’s (D-Ill.) effort to force a floor vote to release the committee’s report publicly. A separate vote of 204–198 blocked a similar effort by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).

The members of the Ethics panel, for their part, have decided against releasing the report publicly after no consensus was reached during a meeting on Nov. 20, with the votes breaking down 5–5 along party lines.

The decision, which Democrats criticized as partisan, aligns with the panel’s typical approach to former members of Congress: Historically, the committee has decided against releasing reports on members who are no longer in Congress.

Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) had earlier indicated that the report on the former congressman wasn’t finished or reviewed.

“I have some reservations about releasing any unfinished work product,” Guest, the committee chairman, told reporters before the meeting, noting that “it has not gone through the review process.”

Gaetz, a longtime ally of President-elect Donald Trump, came into the national spotlight in November after Trump nominated him to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ). He resigned from Congress shortly after Trump announced the selection.

An outspoken critic of many members of Congress, Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general faced immediate pushback in the Senate.

The nomination also brought the House Ethics Committee’s long investigation into allegations against Gaetz back to the forefront.

The panel’s original investigation opened in April 2021, and centered on allegations of illicit drug use, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds for personal use, and taking a bribe.

Several of these allegations were later dropped, while Gaetz has maintained his innocence.

Gaetz ultimately withdrew his name from consideration for the top spot at the DOJ and later announced that he won’t be returning to politics. He is eligible to reclaim the seat during the next Congress.

Gaetz has since been vague about the next steps for his career.