Topline
House Republicans voted Thursday to bar the release of a House Ethics Committee report on Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who withdrew from consideration as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
Gaetz is a former congressman. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
Key Facts
The House voted to block the report’s release in a 206-198 vote, sending it back to the House Ethics Committee, which recently voted against releasing the report and met Thursday to discuss Gaetz, though details on the meeting and report were scarce.
Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the only GOP member to cross party lines and vote with Democrats.
Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have argued the report should not be released because Gaetz is no longer a congressman, as the former Florida representative resigned from the House in preparation for his since-declined nomination as attorney general.
Democrats appear intent on pushing for the report’s release despite Thursday’s vote, though the path to its release is unclear after repeated failed attempts.
Gaetz has denied the allegations against him, which include accusations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, accepting improper gifts and seeking to obstruct government investigations into his conduct.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
