Pressure mounts for release of congressional ethics report on Trump nominee Matt Gaetz
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A US House Ethics Committee examined allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use against Mr Matt Gaetz, who is the attorney-general nominee.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney-general Matt Gaetz came under increasing scrutiny on Nov 14, as a top Republican lawmaker said he “absolutely” wants to review an unreleased report examining allegations of sexual misconduct against Mr Gaetz.
A lawyer representing an alleged victim also called for the report to be made public.
Senator John Cornyn said he and other lawmakers should get access to the report by the House of Representatives Ethics Committee, which examined allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
“I don’t want there to be any limitation at all on what the Senate could consider,” Mr Cornyn told reporters.
When asked if that means he wants to see the ethics report, he replied: “Absolutely.”
Mr Cornyn holds a top spot on the Judiciary Committee, which will consider Mr Gaetz’s nomination in 2025.
All 12 Democrats on the panel also said they should be able to see the Ethics Committee report.
Mr Gaetz is one of a series of nominees tapped by Trump this week who lack the resumes normally seen in candidates for high-level administration jobs.
Like Trump’s other nominees, he will need to win confirmation in the Senate
“It’s premature to count votes – but a lot of questions,” Mr Cornyn said of Mr Gaetz’s prospects.
Mr Gaetz, 42, resigned from his House seat on Nov 13, and this would end the Ethics Committee probe.
He has denied wrongdoing.
According to several news outlets, the panel had intended to release the report on Nov 15.
Mr Gaetz was also investigated by the Justice Department for nearly three years over sex trafficking allegations involving a 17-year-old girl.
His office said in 2023 that he had been told by prosecutors that he would not face criminal charges.
Mr John Clune, a lawyer representing the alleged victim, posted on social media platform X: “Mr Gaetz’s likely nomination as attorney-general is a perverse development in a truly dark series of events. We would support the House Ethics Committee immediately releasing its report.
“She was a high school student and there were witnesses.”
‘Destructive’
Mr Gaetz is widely disliked by his former colleagues in Congress, where he led an effort in 2023 to force out Mr Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, which left the Chamber without a leader for several chaotic weeks.
“He was not just disruptive – he was destructive,” Republican Senator Kevin Cramer told reporters. “Matt Gaetz has a very long, steep hill to get across the finish line.”
Other Republicans said they were inclined to vote for Mr Gaetz.
“The voters of America voted for president Trump’s agenda, and so he needs to be able to build the team he needs and wants to build,” said incoming Republican senator Bernie Moreno, who was elected last week.
Trump has raised the possibility of circumventing the Senate to install his personnel picks.
Mr Gaetz, who is known for making provocative statements, has never worked for the Justice Department or as a prosecutor at any level of government.
On Nov 13, Mr Gaetz mused about abolishing the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a Justice Department unit.
Trump’s inner circle has described the attorney-general, the country’s top law enforcement official, as the most important member of the administration after the president, key to his plans to carry out mass deportations, pardon Jan 6, 2021, rioters, and seek retribution against those who prosecuted him over the past four years.
Trump faced two federal criminal indictments following the end of his four-year term in 2021 and has vowed to radically reshape the Justice Department when he returns to power on Jan 20.
REUTERS
