Speaker Johnson opposes release of Matt Gaetz’s House Ethics report: ‘Open Pandora’s box’

House Speaker Mike Johnson explained his opposition to releasing the House Ethics Committee report on Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Sunday.

Johnson, R-La., made the comments during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream. He pointed out that releasing such a report after Gaetz’s resignation would open “Pandora’s box.” Gaetz resigned from Congress last week shortly after President-elect Trump nominated him as US attorney general.

Bream began by asking Johnson if he was aware of the contents of the ethics report, which deals with allegations of sexual misconduct.

“I don’t know anything about the content of the report because the way the laws work, of course, the Speaker of the House cannot put his finger on the scale or participate in the report of the Ethics Committee. What I do know is that the comment that there was a precedent for the release of the reports is not entirely true,” said Johnson.

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“There is a very important cultural and legal reason that we have always had – almost always – that we do not release investigative reports and ethics to people who are not members of Congress. I fear that opens a Pandora’s box because the power of the Ethics Committee is limited to those who serve its institution and its purpose and I think this would be a violation of the principle that may be harmful to us in the future he added.

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ABC News reported On Thursday, a woman testified before the ethics committee that she had sex with Gaetz when she was 17 years old. The House investigation ended when Gaetz resigned Wednesday.

Gaetz told Fox News Digital in response to the new report, “These allegations are fabricated and may prove false to Congress. These lies following a three-year criminal investigation should be viewed with great skepticism.”

Matt Gaetz has been appointed to serve as Trump’s attorney general. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The top counsel for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment when asked by Fox News Digital.

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Fox News Digital also reached out to Gaetz’s congressional office for comment.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) had previously spoken to the woman, now in her 20s, according to ABC, as part of its multi-year investigation into Gaetz related to allegations of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice.

The DOJ ultimately did not press charges, and Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The details of the case may come out when Gaetz passes Senate confirmation process to lead the department that once investigated him.

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Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would like to see the report.

“I think there should be no limits on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including anything done by the House Ethics Committee,” he told reporters.

Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Tyler Olsen contributed to this report