House Speaker Mike Johnson has stated his opposition to the release of an ethics report concerning allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz, citing procedural concerns.
The bipartisan report, which delves into allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct involving a then 17-year-old, has drawn significant attention from lawmakers. Some senators, including members of Johnson’s Republican Party, have expressed interest in making the findings public. The allegations date back to Gaetz’s time in Congress and surfaced prominently during his tenure.
The ethics inquiry was scheduled for a vote to release the findings just two days after Gaetz’s unexpected nomination. However, following Gaetz’s resignation from Congress, Speaker Johnson argued that publishing the report would violate established protocols.
The New York Times provides more details, including how Gaetz’s resignation appears to have prevented the House Ethics Committee from releasing its yearslong report on the congressman’s alleged wrongdoing. It comes despite senators from both parties wanting the information before assessing Gaetz’s qualifications for the nation’s top law enforcement position:
“That is not the way we do things in the House, and I think that would be a terrible precedent to set,” Mr. Johnson told reporters on Friday at the Capitol. He said that he would make his wishes known to the committee’s chairman, Representative Michael Guest, Republican of Mississippi, who has already said he was not inclined to release the report.
The resistance from the House has the potential to lead to an extraordinary constitutional clash between the two chambers. Senators are charged with vetting and confirming a president’s nominees, including the attorney general.
Mr. Trump’s choices for about a dozen cabinet or cabinet-level roles have yet to be announced, including the leaders of the Treasury, Commerce and Labor Departments.
Gaetz, a controversial figure known for his fierce defense of President-elect Donald Trump, faced scrutiny during his career, including a Justice Department investigation that ultimately did not result in charges. The ethics report is seen by some as a critical piece of transparency, while others, including Johnson, believe withholding it aligns with House traditions.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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Well, if they want it released, then it’s time to throw open the doors so to
speak on all the members and their indiscretions.
A few observations.
1. They have been investigating this for years now. It has not resulted in a criminal referral or even a censure within Congress.
2. Nor has there been an arrest–much less a conviction on the part of the FBI, DOJ, or any other law enforcement agency. Given the law fare we’ve seen in recent years, especially of those who are considered enemies by the Democrats, you would think something would have been pursued if there was anything to pursue (and maybe even if there wasn’t).
3. Publicly releasing a report that concluded in no adverse action being taken against the accused would be a terrible thing to do. We all know how polarized Congress is. Some on the committee have no doubt made many slanderous statements that amount to defamation. Knowing how government works, they probably have either excluded themselves from being sued, or if they could be sued, taxpayers would no doubt be on the hook for any damages, not the individuals who made the defamatory statements.
Can we just get on with saving America, and put our detractors on hold? Whiners will whine. But, we don’t need to disrupt everything because of unsubstantiated (old) accusations, do we?
As we all remember, in Trump’s first term, the Democrats were relentless! Attacks and lies. They obstructed government. Why would this term be different?
Can we squabble later?