US Speaker Opposes Release of Ethics Report on Trump’s AG Nominee Matt Gaetz

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday defended the decision to withhold the House Ethics Committee report on Matt Gaetz, Donald Trump’s controversial nominee for attorney general. Johnson argued that the report should not be released because Gaetz has resigned from Congress, stating, “It should not come out. He is no longer a member.”

Allegations Against Gaetz

Gaetz, a polarizing Florida Republican, has faced multiple allegations, including paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl (a claim he denies), illicit drug use, misuse of campaign funds, and sharing inappropriate images on the House floor. These allegations were under investigation by the House Ethics Committee before Gaetz resigned, effectively halting the probe.

Controversial Nomination

President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Gaetz as attorney general has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and some Republicans. Gaetz, who lacks experience in the Justice Department but has been investigated by it, is seen by critics as unfit for the role.

Senator-elect Adam Schiff, a Democrat, argued Gaetz’s nomination was unacceptable:

“Are we really going to have an attorney general with credible allegations of child sex trafficking, drug use, and obstruction of justice?”

Trump’s critics also contend that appointing Gaetz could lead to the dismissal of criminal cases against Trump and politically motivated prosecutions against his opponents.

Divided Views on Ethics Report Release

Some lawmakers, including Republicans, have called for the report to be shared, at least with the Senate, which has a constitutional duty to vet nominees. Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, told NBC that the Senate “absolutely” should have access to the report.

However, Johnson downplayed the need for the Ethics Committee’s findings, stating, “Senators will have a rigorous vetting process… They don’t need to rely on a report prepared for limited purposes.”

Partisan Clash

Democratic Senator John Fetterman dismissed Gaetz as unfit for office, calling him “a troll.” Meanwhile, Johnson’s resistance to releasing the report underscores the partisan divide, with Democrats accusing the Speaker of shielding Gaetz from scrutiny.

As the Senate prepares to review Trump’s Cabinet nominees, the debate over Gaetz’s nomination and the ethics report’s release continues to dominate political discourse.