A significant development has emerged in the congressional ethics investigation of former Representative Matt Gaetz, as the House Ethics Committee has privately voted to release their comprehensive report, according to an anonymous source familiar with the proceedings.
This unexpected decision marks a notable shift from last month’s party-line vote that initially blocked the release of findings from their nearly four-year investigation. The probe examined allegations regarding potential sexual misconduct with minors and illicit drug use during Gaetz’s time in office.
The committee’s latest move comes despite opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson and most Republican members, who maintain that congressional investigations should conclude upon a member’s resignation. A recent attempt to force the report’s release through a House floor vote was unsuccessful, with all but one Republican opposing the measure.
Responding to the news on social media, Gaetz continued to deny wrongdoing while acknowledging past behavior he described as “embarrassing, though not criminal.” The former congressman criticized the timing of the potential release, noting he would lack the opportunity to respond as a former member.
The investigation runs parallel to a separate Justice Department probe into sex trafficking allegations involving Gaetz, which concluded last year without federal charges. Related to these allegations, Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector and one-time Gaetz associate, accepted a plea deal in 2021 admitting to facilitating paid sexual encounters involving multiple individuals, including an underage girl. Greenberg received an 11-year prison sentence in late 2022.
While the release of ethics reports following a member’s resignation is uncommon, this case has drawn particular attention given Gaetz’s prominence and his recent withdrawal as President-elect Trump’s nominee for attorney general.
