A Democratic lawmaker pushed Tuesday to force the release of a bombshell ethics report into sex-and-drugs allegations against ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz even after his bid for attorney general imploded.
Rep. Matt Casten (D-Illinois) launched a legislative maneuver that is expected to force the full House of Representatives to vote in coming days on whether to bare what is believed to be a damning report about the Florida lawmaker’s sketchy behavior.
“Withholding this report from the American people would impede the dignity and integrity of the legislative proceedings of the House,” Casten said Tuesday.
There was no immediate comment from House Speaker Mike Johnson or Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
The resolution states that the House “shall immediately release the latest draft of its report and a summary of its findings to the public, including any conclusions, draft reports, recommendations, attachments, exhibits and accompanying materials.”
The GOP-led House Ethics committee is set to meet Thursday to mull possible next moves in the Gaetz drama. It refused last month to release a draft report when Gaetz was still in the running to head up the Department of Justice but agreed to finalize the report.
The panel would normally only issue reports on sitting lawmakers.
Gaetz, 42, has been dogged for years by credible allegations that he paid women for sex at drug-fueled parties. A young woman says she was just 17 when Gaetz had sex with her when he was about 35.
Federal prosecutors investigated the seedy story for years but declined to charge Gaetz.
President-elect Trump shocked political enemies and allies alike by tapping Gaetz to be the nation’s top law enforcement official.
Gaetz quickly resigned his House seat, a move that appeared to be a ploy to avoid imminent release of the ethics report. But the nomination blew up when several GOP senators said they would not vote to confirm him.
Gaetz has since confirmed that he does not plan to return to Congress or run in a special election to fill his now-vacant seat. Democrats note that Trump could appoint him to a post in his incoming administration that does not require Senate confirmation.
