The House Committee on Ethics has reached a stalemate regarding the release of its investigative report on attorney general-designate Matt Gaetz, according to the committee's chairman, Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.). Guest informed reporters on Wednesday that the 10-member panel could not come to a consensus on making the report public. The investigation focused on whether Gaetz breached congressional rules pertaining to sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, among other alleged violations.
Before the committee's closed-door session, which extended beyond two hours, Guest expressed his 'reservations' about releasing the report, describing it as an 'unfinished work product' still in the 'final review' phase. Guest did not provide clarity on whether the committee had voted to either release the report or forward it directly to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is slated to review Gaetz's nomination for the Justice Department leadership role early next year.
Unlike other House committees, the Ethics panel is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, requiring just one GOP vote to make the Gaetz report public.
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