The congressional panel that investigated allegations of sexual misconduct against Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for US Attorney General, concluded its proceedings on Wednesday without releasing its report.
Gaetz, who was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 2016 and won re-election this month, resigned shortly after being chosen by Trump to lead the Justice Department. His resignation reportedly occurred just days before the House Ethics Committee was set to vote on releasing its report, leaving its fate uncertain as Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress.
The panel's investigation delved into alleged illegal activities by Gaetz, including sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl—which he denies—along with drug use, misappropriation of campaign funds, and other illicit behaviors. Some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, have opposed the release of the report. However, officials from both parties have advocated for it to be shared with the US Senate, which is responsible for cabinet nominations.
After a closed-door meeting that lasted approximately two hours on Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee members left without reaching a consensus. "There is not an agreement by the committee to release the report," Republican chairman Michael Guest informed reporters following the meeting.
Senator Dick Durbin, the leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued a public letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Wednesday, requesting access to the files from the investigation into charges of "alleged sex trafficking of minors." "In order for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty in this case, we must be able to thoroughly review all relevant materials that pertain to the credibility of these serious allegations against Gaetz," the letter stated.
The House Ethics Committee initiated its investigation in 2021. It was temporarily halted when the Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into the matter but resumed after prosecutors decided not to file charges.
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