WASHINGTON — On Friday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that he plans to ask the House Ethics Committee to withhold a potentially damaging report concerning the behavior of former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who has been nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be attorney general.

“I will make a strong appeal to the Ethics Committee not to release the report, as that isn’t in line with our usual practices in the House,” Johnson told reporters, as reported by Politico and CNN. “I believe setting such a precedent would be a mistake.”

Gaetz, known for his conservative views and close ties to Trump, resigned from Congress on Wednesday, shortly after his nomination to lead the Justice Department and just two days before the Ethics Committee was scheduled to discuss the potential report concerning a three-year investigation into his conduct.

The investigation was centered on various allegations including sexual misconduct, drug use, accepting “improper gifts,” and offering favors to people with whom he had personal connections.

Johnson mentioned that he intends to discuss the situation with Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., the chairman of the House Ethics Committee. Guest has indicated he does not plan to make the report available to the public.

When asked if the public deserves to see the report, Johnson reportedly replied, “The House rules have always maintained that a former member is outside the Ethics Committee’s jurisdiction. Therefore, I don’t believe this is a pertinent issue.”

Earlier this week, Johnson had refrained from taking a definitive stance on the release of the Gaetz ethics report, stating on Wednesday: “The Speaker of the House shouldn’t and can’t be involved in that.”

Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and was previously investigated by the Justice Department over allegations involving a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old girl and that he had financed her travel with him. The DOJ concluded the investigation in February 2023 without pursuing charges against him.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is able to subpoena the Gaetz report. Some Republican senators have expressed their desire to see the report and have predicted that details will emerge regardless of Johnson and Guest’s commitment to confidentiality.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the committee overseeing Gaetz’s nomination, told reporters on Thursday: “I don’t see any significant reasons to keep information from the public.”

“Additionally, we have the FBI’s resources available for a background check. Ultimately, the facts will come to light here,” he said. “It’s in the president’s best interest to avoid surprises, so we should be completely aware of the facts.”

Gaetz’s nomination as attorney general by Trump has caused a stir in Washington, surprising many on both sides of the aisle. While Gaetz is a commercial litigation attorney, he lacks experience as a prosecutor and has been a notable critic of the Justice Department from his position on the House Judiciary Committee, accusing Attorney General Merrick Garland of using the department against Trump.

In nominating Gaetz to direct the Justice Department, Trump — who faced charges in four different criminal cases in 2023 — emphasized that “very few issues in America are more urgent than putting an end to the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System.” Trump has maintained his innocence in all four cases and received a conviction in one after a trial. During the 2024 campaign, Trump promised retribution against his political foes.

Gaetz’s path to Senate confirmation might be challenging, even with the Republican majority in the upper chamber. However, GOP senators may hesitate to oppose Trump’s choice following his significant electoral victory.