WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, the House Ethics Committee convened in a private session, but remained deadlocked over the release of its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
Several Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have said they want to review the House report on the investigation into Gaetz before they begin the Judiciary Committee confirmation process next year.
Following the session, Democrats tried to introduce resolutions to force the report’s public release.
Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Sean Casten (D-Ill.) resolutions to try to force the committee to release the report. With Republicans holding a majority in the House and leadership deciding when the resolution is brought up for a vote, Republicans will attempt to block the vote.
A majority of the House would need to vote in favor to force the release of the report.
Gaetz is fighting off allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, gave special favors to people that he had personal relationships with and obstructed the House probe.
He has denied all allegations.
The committee met for over two hours and Republican Rep. Michael Guest, the committee chairman, told reporters, “There was not an agreement to release the report,” as he left the meeting.
However, Rep. Susan Wild blasted Guest for mischaracterization of the meeting.
“The chairman has since betrayed the process by disclosing our deliberations within moments after walking out of the committee, and he has implied that there was an agreement of the committee not to disclose the report. That is untrue — to the extent that suggests that the committee was in agreement or that we had a consensus on that, that is inaccurate,” Wild said.
Wild said “a vote was taken” and said it was along party lines with Democrats voting for the release and Republicans voting against it.
“I do not want the American public or anyone else to think that Mr. Guest’s characterization of what transpired today would be some sort of indication that the committee had unanimity or consensus on this issue not to release the report,” she said.
