Home Speaker Mike Johnson defined his opposition to releasing the Home Ethics Committee report on Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Sunday.
Johnson, R-La., made the feedback throughout an look on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream. He argued that releasing such a report after Gaetz’s resignation may open a “Pandora’s box.” Gaetz resigned from Congress final week shortly after President-elect Trump nominated him to function U.S. legal professional basic.
Bream started by asking Johnson whether or not he was conscious of the contents of the ethics report, which pertained to alleged sexual misconduct.
“I don’t know anything about the contents of the report because the way the rules work, of course, the speaker of the House can’t put a thumb on the scale or be involved in an Ethics Committee report. What I do know is that the comments about there being a precedent for releasing reports is not exactly accurate,” Johnson stated.
MIKE JOHNSON WINS REPUBLICAN SUPPORT TO BE HOUSE SPEAKER AGAIN AFTER TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
Speaker Mike Johnson is defending Gaetz from requires the Home Ethics Committee to launch a report on the previous consultant. (Getty Pictures)
“There’s a very important reason for the tradition and the rule that we always have – almost always followed – and that is that we don’t issue investigations and ethics reports on people who are not members of Congress. I’m afraid that that would open a Pandora’s box because the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee is limited to those who are serving in the institution. That’s its very purpose. And I think this would be a breach of protocol that could be dangerous for us going forward in the future,” he added.
MATT GAETZ FACES GOP SENATE OPPOSITION AFTER TRUMP SELECTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
ABC Information reported on Thursday {that a} girl testified to the ethics committee that she had sexual relations with Gaetz when she was 17 years previous. The Home investigation ceased when Gaetz resigned on Wednesday.
Gaetz informed Fox Information Digital in response to the brand new report, “These allegations are invented and would constitute false testimony to Congress. This false smear following a three-year criminal investigation should be viewed with great skepticism.”
Matt Gaetz has been nominated to function Trump’s legal professional basic. (Al Drago/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures)
The chief counsel for the Home Ethics Committee declined to remark when requested by Fox Information Digital.
REPUBLICANS PROJECTED TO KEEP CONTROL OF HOUSE AS TRUMP PREPARES TO IMPLEMENT AGENDA
Fox Information Digital additionally reached out to Gaetz’s congressional workplace for remark.
The Division of Justice (DOJ) had beforehand spoken to the lady, now in her 20s, in line with ABC, as a part of its years-long investigation into Gaetz associated to accusations of intercourse trafficking and obstruction of justice.
The DOJ in the end didn’t press costs, and Gaetz has constantly denied all wrongdoing.
Particulars of the matter may come out if Gaetz goes by means of the Senate affirmation course of to guide the division that when investigated him.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recommended he would wish to see the report.
“I think there should not be any limitation on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including whatever the House Ethics Committee has generated,” he informed reporters.
Fox Information’ Elizabeth Elkind and Tyler Olsen contributed to this report
