The office of Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., should not be able to “clear” an ethics investigation into allegations of misconduct, citing Gaetz’s nomination to be US attorney. general under President-elect Trump.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has forced the House Ethics Committee to not release a potentially damaging report on the three-year investigation of Gaetz amid allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and illegal drug use.
Gaetz has denied the claims against him.
Gaetz’s resignation effectively ended the investigation because he is no longer a member of Congress. Speaking to reporters at the US Capitol Friday, Johnson said releasing the report would “open a dangerous Pandora’s box.”
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Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., talks to reporters about the nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to be attorney general outside the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Durbin’s spokesperson, Josh Sorbe, said the senator, who is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pushed for the report to be released to the public.
“There is a long history of the release of ethics investigation resources after a member has resigned, either from the House or the Senate,” Sorbe said. “A former congressman must not resign from an ethical investigation involving allegations of misconduct, especially if he has been elected to the position of the highest legal officer in our country.
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“There is bipartisan support for the Senate Judiciary Committee to have access to this information,” he added. “Chairman Durbin will continue to follow up so that committee members can fulfill their constitutional responsibility for advice and consent regarding this controversial position.”
After news broke Wednesday that Gaetz had been selected for Trump’s Cabinet, House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters that the investigation would end if Gaetz were to resign from Congress.
Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., center; Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.; and Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., speak to the media after the House Judiciary Committee passed two articles of impeachment against President Trump on December 13, 2019. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
On Friday, Johnson said he would not contact or speak with the Ethics Committee and asked them not to release the report when asked by Fox News.
“I don’t know anything about the investigation. The Speaker of the House has nothing to do with those things,” Johnson said. “I am responding to media reports that the report is currently being prepared and will be issued by the member of the House.”
He added that he did not believe that issuing a report would be appropriate.
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“It doesn’t follow our rules and practices, there’s a reason for that,” said Johnson. “That would open a Pandora’s box, and I don’t think that’s a healthy thing for the institution. So, that’s my position.”
Gaetz’s appointment has been criticized by some when considering the allegations against him. Some GOP members of the Senate said he faces an uphill battle for confirmation.
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