U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Los Angeles) speaks to reporters during a press conference held by Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., on November 12, 2024.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday said the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General Matt Gaetz was a “Pandora’s box” and said the committee’s report should not be released .
“My understanding is that the report is not finished yet. It’s just a rough draft. It’s not ready for release, and since Matt Gaetz has left Congress, I don’t think it’s appropriate to do that,” the Louisiana Republican said. Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and other misconduct. Just two days before the panel was set to vote on releasing the report, Gaetz abruptly resigned from Congress. blackjack news reported last week.
“I think it’s going to be a Pandora’s box. I don’t think we want the House Ethics Committee to use all of its vast resources and power to go after private citizens, which Matt Gaetz is now,” Johnson said.
Gates resigns Valid end The Ethics Committee investigates because the panel’s reach is limited to House members.
On Thursday, attorneys for the woman who claims she had sex with Gaetz when she was a minor said the ethics committee should release the report.
Johnson argued the Senate should not rely on the report to confirm the former Florida congressman.
“The Senate has a role under the Constitution, which is to provide advice and consent, and they will fulfill that role,” Johnson said. “They will have a rigorous scrutiny and review process in the Senate, but they will not need to rely on the report or the draft report “This is a rough draft report prepared by the Ethics Committee for very limited purposes.”
Johnson and Gaetz did not immediately respond to emails from CNBC seeking comment.
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin said Sunday that the House Ethics Committee “absolutely” should release Gaetz’s report.
“The Senate has to advise these people and get their consent, and in that process we’re going to give Matt Gaetz the same treatment as all of President Trump’s nominees,” Mullin said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” opportunity. “If he’s qualified, he’s qualified. Frankly, I didn’t even know he was a lawyer until after he was appointed attorney general and I had to research him. “
Gaetz was previously involved in a federal investigation into whether he was involved in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. The investigation, which ended last year without charges, was conducted by the Justice Department – the agency that Gaetz would lead if he was confirmed as U.S. attorney general.
On Friday, an attorney for a woman told the ethics committee that she saw Gaetz having sex with a minor, NBC News reported.
“My client testified before the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Rep. Gaetz having sex with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017,” attorney Joel Leppard said.
Gaetz has denied all accusations against him. In September, he announced he would stop cooperating with the House panel, while sharing a letter in which he vehemently denied “engaging in sexual conduct with any individual under the age of 18.”
—CNBC Kevin Breuninger contributed to this story.
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