A critical meeting of the U.S. House Ethics Committee is set for Wednesday, potentially determining the future of Matt Gaetz, recently nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for attorney general. Gaetz, who resigned his House seat just hours before the nomination was announced, is under scrutiny for allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use—claims he has consistently denied.
The Ethics Committee’s investigation, nearing its conclusion before Gaetz’s resignation, examined allegations involving a 17-year-old and alleged payments for sex. An attorney representing witnesses in the probe claimed one of his clients saw Gaetz with the teenager at a Florida party in 2017. The attorney called on the Ethics Committee to release its findings.
While the Department of Justice previously investigated Gaetz over similar allegations, concluding without charges in 2023, the Senate—tasked with confirming high-level appointments—is now pressing for access to the Ethics Committee’s report. Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has urged transparency, stating that the Senate should review the findings, though the ultimate decision on public disclosure remains uncertain.
Gaetz’s nomination is part of a controversial Cabinet lineup from Trump, whose return to power is already marked by vows to overhaul the Justice Department amid his own ongoing legal challenges. As the Ethics Committee deliberates, the clash between House Republicans, Senate leadership, and Trump’s team underscores the high stakes surrounding the pick.
With bipartisan calls for clarity, the Ethics Committee’s next move could have wide-reaching implications—not just for Gaetz, but for the integrity of Trump’s incoming administration.
