The House ethics committee is set to vote on whether to make the long-awaited report investigating allegations of sexual misconduct and potential illegal activities involving former Florida Republican congressman Matt Gaetz public. The report allegedly details allegations of drug use, misuse of campaign funds, sexual misconduct with a minor, and obstructing the House investigation. Gaetz has denied the claims.
After Gaetz’s resignation from Congress and withdrawal as a potential Trump administration nominee, Democrats have been pushing for the report’s release. They argue that transparency is crucial and that withholding the report would undermine the committee’s credibility.
However, committee chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, believes that the panel’s investigative jurisdiction ends when a member leaves Congress. Nonetheless, if the committee vote results in an impasse due to ideological split, a full floor vote will be brought to the House.
The report’s potential revelations could have significant political implications for Gaetz, who is rumored to be considering a bid for Florida governor in 2026. The investigation has gained additional scrutiny following the guilty plea of Gaetz’s associate Joel Greenberg in 2021 for paying women and an underage girl for sexual services.
The decision on whether to release the report will have repercussions on Gaetz’s political future and the ongoing investigations surrounding him. The vote is set to take place on Thursday, with all lawmakers facing a decision on whether to grant public access to a report that has been years in the making.
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