In a move that could have significant political ramifications, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is taking a firm stance against the release of a long-anticipated ethics report regarding Rep. Matt Gaetz, a controversial figure with ties to former President Donald Trump. The report, which investigates allegations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz, had been set to be made public by the House Ethics Committee, but Johnson is pushing back, calling for the panel to withhold it entirely.
“I’m strongly urging the Ethics Committee not to release the report,” Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said at a Capitol briefing. He framed the release of such a report as a breach of House protocol, insisting that former members should not be subject to its jurisdiction. “It’s not the way we do things here,” Johnson emphasized, calling the potential release a “terrible precedent.”
The ethics inquiry into Gaetz had loomed large as he emerged as a nominee for a top post in Trump’s administration. Gaetz, who denies any wrongdoing, was at the center of a nearly three-year investigation by the Justice Department concerning allegations of sex trafficking involving a minor. Though the department ultimately declined to bring charges, the ethics report was set to be released shortly after Gaetz resigned from Congress, ending his legislative tenure.
In an unexpected twist, Johnson’s objection could delay the examination of the report during upcoming Senate confirmation hearings, where lawmakers of both parties are expected to scrutinize nominees. With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the Senate, Gaetz’s confirmation could face hurdles, particularly as some of his party members express reservations about his qualifications and background.
Johnson’s latest intervention signals a contentious future for Gaetz’s potential political comeback, with questions lingering about the broader implications for the GOP’s handling of scandal-tainted figures in the administration.
