House lawmakers are set to vote on whether to compel the Ethics Committee to release its report on an investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has been accused of drug use, sexual misconduct, and obstructing the probe. Gaetz denies the allegations, but they have caused concern among Senate Republicans. The bipartisan Ethics panel has met twice to discuss releasing the report but has not yet reached a decision. If no agreement is reached, the full House will vote on the matter.
Some Democrats are pushing for the report to be made public, while Republicans argue that the Ethics Committee only has jurisdiction over sitting members of Congress, not former members like Gaetz. The two resolutions offered by Democrats, one directing the release of the report and the other to preserve and release records of the review, must be voted on promptly. The votes are expected to be along party lines, with Republicans likely to succeed in blocking the resolutions.
Democrats are pushing back against the GOP argument, citing past instances where the Ethics Committee released reports on former lawmakers, such as former Reps. Bill Boner and Mark Foley. They argue that failure to release the report on Gaetz undermines the committee’s credibility and hinders the integrity of House proceedings. The situation is reminiscent of a similar dispute in 1996 regarding a report on then-Speaker Newt Gingrich. The outcome of the vote will determine whether the report on Gaetz’s conduct will be made public.
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