House lawmakers recently voted against releasing an Ethics Committee report regarding former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida and close ally of former President Donald Trump. The report stems from an investigation into allegations of drug use, sexual misconduct with a minor, and obstruction of a House probe, among other claims. The bipartisan Ethics panel met privately to discuss the report but did not release it, opting to continue discussing the matter. Gaetz has denied the allegations, which led to some Senate Republicans expressing reluctance to confirm him as Trump’s attorney general. Despite deadlocking on the release of the report previously, the full House considered resolutions to make the report public or preserve and release related records. However, Republicans voted to send the resolutions back to the Ethics Committee, preventing their immediate release. Democrats argue that the panel has released reports on former lawmakers in the past, suggesting that the report on Gaetz should be made public for the sake of transparency and maintaining the integrity of House proceedings. Gaetz’s resignation from Congress has complicated the issue, with differing opinions on whether the Ethics Committee has jurisdiction over ex-members. Democrats are pushing for the release of the report, while Republicans maintain that the committee’s focus should be on current members of Congress. The fate of the report remains uncertain as discussions continue within the Ethics Committee.
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House delays release of Matt Gaetz ethics report after vote
