House Ethics Committee to meet Wednesday to discuss Matt Gaetz report

WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee plans to meet Wednesday to discuss its report into former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, a source familiar with the meeting confirmed on Monday.

The bipartisan Ethics committee had been investigating Gaetz off and on since 2021, probing allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 17-year-old girl, illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts. But the committee lost jurisdiction over Gaetz when he resigned from the House on Thursday and has not released any public report on its probe.

On Friday, an attorney said that his client testified privately before the Ethics Committee that she personally witnessed Gaetz have sex with a minor. Gaetz, 42, has denied all allegations.

Republican senators, who will consider Gaetz's nomination once it is formalized next year, have said they want details of the ethics investigation — whether through access to the report itself or through an FBI background check on Gaetz.

The House Ethics panel had been scheduled to discuss the report at its regular Friday meeting but it was postponed after Gaetz resigned. CNN first reported that the committee will now meet Wednesday. A spokesman for the Ethics panel declined to comment.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is opposed to the release of the Gaetz report, telling reporters Friday he would “strongly request” that the panel not make it public due to the fact that Gaetz is now a former member of Congress and the Ethics panel only has jurisdiction over sitting members.

Johnson said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he has “not discussed one word about the ethics report,” with Trump, despite spending time with the president-elect in recent days in Washington, at Mar-a-Lago and at a UFC event at Madison Square Garden.

A number of Republican senators, including some who will have an opportunity to question Gaetz at a Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing, have said they want to see the House report.

Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said senators should "absolutely" have access to the House report.

"I believe the Senate should have access to that now.... That should be definitely part of our decision-making," said Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House and has been publicly critical of the Florida Republican's character.

"Once again, I go back to Article Two, Section Two in the Constitution. The Senate has to advise and consent these individuals," the senator added. "In that process, we're going to give Matt Gaetz the same chances we'll give all President Trump's nominees."

Scott Wong is a senior congressional reporter for NBC News.