Home Ethics Committee chairman says panel didn’t attain settlement on releasing Matt Gaetz report

Washington — The Home Ethics committee, assembly to think about the discharge of a report on its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, didn’t attain an settlement on Wednesday afternoon, the committee chairman stated. 

The assembly got here one week after the Florida Republican resigned from Congress following President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to choose him for lawyer basic. 

Home Ethics Committee chairman Michael Visitor instructed reporters that the panel had not reached an “settlement to launch the report” as he exited the assembly Wednesday afternoon. 

Visitor instructed CBS Information that he voted towards the discharge of the report, saying “the committee not has jurisdiction on the difficulty so I disagreed with the discharge of the data.”

The committee’s different members didn’t touch upon the greater than two-hour assembly as they exited. 

The committee, which is made up of 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats, had been investigating allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. The investigation first started in 2021, however was placed on pause because the Justice Division carried out a intercourse trafficking and obstruction probe of Gaetz. Final 12 months, the ethics committee resumed its work, after the DOJ declined to cost Gaetz, who has denied all wrongdoing.

The panel has confronted rising strain to launch the doubtless damaging report following Trump’s announcement, because the Senate gears up for a struggle over the president-elect’s most controversial Cupboard picks in search of affirmation. Earlier than the transfer, the committee had deliberate to fulfill Friday for a vote on whether or not to launch the report, sources instructed CBS Information. However Gaetz’s resignation from the Home ended the committee’s jurisdiction, complicating the trail ahead since usually studies on former members usually are not launched.  

Speaker Mike Johnson himself urged the committee to not launch the report, warning final week of the “horrible precedent” the transfer would set, opening “Pandora’s field.” However the committee’s prime Democrat has advocated for the report back to be launched, whereas senators on either side of the aisle have pushed for it to be made accessible to the Senate Judiciary Committee because the chamber appears to train its recommendation and consent position over Trump’s Cupboard picks. On Wednesday morning, Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee additionally despatched a letter to the FBI requesting Gaetz’ full evidentiary file associated to the investigation into alleged intercourse trafficking of minors.

In June, the Ethics Committee stated as a part of its investigation, it had spoken with greater than a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas and reviewed hundreds of pages of paperwork. It famous that “sure allegations” merited continued evaluation, together with claims of sexual misconduct, drug use and obstructing authorities investigations into his conduct, amongst others. 

A lawyer for 2 ladies who spoke with the committee instructed CBS Information that the ladies testified to the committee that Gaetz paid them immediately and repeatedly for intercourse, and famous that Venmo transactions associated to the encounters had been obtained by the panel. One of many lawyer’s shoppers testified that she witnessed Gaetz having intercourse with a 17-year-old throughout a July 2017 celebration.

The ethics committee’s transfer on Wednesday comes as Senate Republicans, who flipped the higher chamber within the 2024 elections, are set to carry a slim majority within the new Congress, bolstering Trump’s agenda and certain serving to to streamline affirmation of his administration and judicial nominees. However their majority is a slim one, placing the destiny of Trump’s extra controversial picks — similar to Gaetz — up within the air. 

Trump stated on Tuesday that he’s not reconsidering his choice of Gaetz for lawyer basic. In the meantime, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Gaetz met Wednesday with various Senate Republicans within the Capitol as they give the impression of being to shore up help for his nomination. 

contributed to this report.