The workplace of Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Sick., mentioned former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., should not be capable to “resign away” an ethics investigation into misconduct allegations, citing Gaetz’s nomination to function U.S. lawyer common below President-elect Trump.
Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has pushed for the Home Ethics Committee to not launch a probably damaging report on a three-year probe of Gaetz amid allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and illicit drug use.
Gaetz has denied the claims in opposition to him.
Gaetz’s resignation successfully ended the investigation as a result of he’s not a member of Congress. Talking with reporters on the U.S. Capitol Friday, Johnson mentioned releasing the report would “open a dangerous Pandora’s box.”
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Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Sick., talks with reporters in regards to the nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to be lawyer common exterior a Senate Judiciary Committee markup Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Name)
Durbin spokesperson Josh Sorbe mentioned the senator, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has pushed for the report’s launch to the general public.
“There is longstanding precedent for releasing ethics investigation materials after a member resigns, whether in the House or Senate,” mentioned Sorbe. “The now former congressman shouldn’t be able to resign away an ethics investigation involving allegations of grave misconduct, especially when he will be nominated to be our country’s top law enforcement officer.
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“There’s bipartisan help for the Senate Judiciary Committee accessing this info,” he added. “Chair Durbin will proceed pursuing it so members of the committee can fulfill their constitutional obligation of recommendation and consent on this deeply problematic nominee.”
After information broke Wednesday that Gaetz was chosen for the Trump Cupboard, Home Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Michael Visitor, R-Miss., advised reporters the investigation would finish if Gaetz had been to step down from Congress.
Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., center; Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.; and Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., address the media after the House Judiciary Committee passed two articles of impeachment against President Trump Dec. 13, 2019. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
On Friday, Johnson said he won’t be reaching out or speaking with the Ethics Committee to ask it not to release the report when asked by Fox News.
“I do not know something in regards to the investigation. The speaker of the Home shouldn’t be concerned with these issues,” Johnson said. “I’m reacting to media reviews {that a} report is presently in some draft type and was going to be launched on what’s now a former member of the Home.”
He added that he didn’t believe releasing the report would be “acceptable.”
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“It would not comply with our guidelines and traditions, and there’s a purpose for that,” said Johnson. “That will open up Pandora’s field, and I do not suppose that is a wholesome factor for the establishment. So, that is my place.”
Gaetz’s nomination has come below hearth by some contemplating the allegations in opposition to him. Some GOP members of the Senate have mentioned he faces an uphill battle to get confirmed.
