The House Ethics Committee will release a report on the Matt Gaetz investigation
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee has voted to make public a report detailing the findings of its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, two sources familiar with the matter told NBC News — a step down from last month when the committee deadlocked. on whether to publish the report.
The report is expected to be published as soon as this week, after the House of Representatives completes its final work for the year: voting to keep the government open.
The committee’s years-long investigation included examining allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, accepted inappropriate gifts, provided special favors to people with whom he had personal relationships and obstructed the House investigation.
Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives last month after President-elect Donald Trump said he intended to nominate him for attorney general.
Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for the position just eight days after Trump’s announcement, after he faced scrutiny from senators and details emerged publicly about the testimony of women who spoke to the ethics committee. He has denied any wrongdoing.
It was CNN First to report News of the committee vote.
A lawyer for one of the women interviewed by the committee alleged that Gaetz paid for sex in Florida, a state where prostitution is illegal. The same woman told the committee that Gaetz had sex with her friend, who was 17 at the time.
Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Ethics Committee met for hours behind closed doors about Gaetz, but was unable to reach an agreement on publishing the report. A majority of House members voted this month against a resolution that would have forced the committee to publish the report. Instead, the House sent the matter back to committee.
The matter appeared to be dead until Wednesday’s development. The release of the report is significant given that Gaetz remains a close ally of Trump and is in regular contact with him and has tried to run for governor of Florida in 2026.
The release of the Gaetz report goes against the wishes of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has repeatedly argued that releasing a report about someone who is no longer a member of Congress would set a “terrible precedent.”
The Ethics Commission only has jurisdiction over current members of Congress — not former ones. But on several occasions, the Ethics Committee has published investigative reports about members who have recently left office. For example, Rep. Bill Bonner, Democrat of Tennessee, resigned on October 5, 1987, to become mayor of Nashville. Issued by the Ethics Committee Initial staff report The following December, allegations that Boehner misused campaign funds and failed to disclose gifts and bribes accepted were examined.
Gaetz was also investigated by the Department of Justice over sex trafficking allegations. This investigation ended without charges being brought.
in Long post on X On Wednesday, Gaetz criticized the committee and his accusers, pointing to the fact that the Justice Department’s investigation did not result in charges. He again denied any criminal wrongdoing.
“In my single days, I often sent money to women I dated — even some I never dated but asked me out. I dated many of these women for years,” Gaetz said. “I have never had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18…. My 30s were the age of work hard — and play hard, too.”
He added: “It is embarrassing, although not criminal, that I may have been partying, transitioning into a woman, drinking and smoking too much earlier in my life.” “I live a different life now.”
Gaetz announced this month that he would start a new job in the new year as a nightly anchor at the Trump-friendly One America News Network, or OAN. He will also podcast for OAN.