WASHINGTON — A political standoff is developing regarding the potential release of a House Ethics Committee report before the Senate votes on President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general.

Gaetz, who stepped down on Wednesday, has been under investigation by the committee for three years due to allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, receiving “improper gifts,” and providing special favors to associates.

The House Ethics Committee, which broadened its inquiry in June to include more allegations, was set to decide on Friday whether to make its report public. However, Gaetz’s resignation essentially halted the investigation.

On Thursday, committee chair Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, informed reporters that he did not intend to release the report.

“Everything concerning Ethics is confidential. We will uphold that confidentiality,” he stated, as reported by Politico. “My previous comments still stand, and nothing has changed since then.”

When pressed, Guest refrained from commenting on whether he could disclose the report now that Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress.

Demands for the report’s disclosure heightened on Thursday after Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged the House panel to “preserve and share” its findings in a statement.

“Mr. Gaetz’s resignation timing raises significant concerns about what the Ethics Committee report contains,” Durbin remarked. “We cannot allow details from this bipartisan investigation to remain concealed from the public.”

Durbin continued: “It’s essential to recognize that this information could directly impact the assessment of Mr. Gaetz’s nomination as the next Attorney General and our constitutional duty of advice and consent.”

Previously, Gaetz was under investigation by the Justice Department concerning claims that he engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl and facilitated her travel with him. The Justice Department concluded its investigation in February 2023 without filing charges against him.

Trump’s announcement of Gaetz as AG has caused a stir in Washington, surprising both Democrats and Republicans. Gaetz, a lawyer and steadfast supporter of MAGA, lacks prosecutorial experience. He has been a harsh critic of the Justice Department, claiming that Attorney General Merrick Garland has misused the system to target Trump.

In advocating for Gaetz’s nomination to lead the Justice Department, Trump — who faced indictment in four distinct criminal cases in 2023 — stated, “Few issues matter more in America than stopping the partisan misuse of our Justice System.” Trump has maintained his not guilty plea in all four cases and received a conviction in one after a trial. During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised to retaliate against his political rivals.

Senate Republicans Assert Investigation Facts Will Surface

The Senate Judiciary Committee has the authority to subpoena the Gaetz report. Although House Republicans, under Guest’s leadership, intend to keep the report secret, Senate Republicans have committed to ensuring the information is revealed eventually.

Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas and a committee member overseeing Gaetz’s nomination, told reporters Thursday: “I don’t see any pertinent details that should remain undisclosed.”

“The FBI’s resources will also assist in conducting a background investigation. Ultimately, the facts will emerge,” he emphasized. “It’s crucial for the president to be informed, so he is not caught off guard with this situation.”

Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, shared a similar view: “I trust that whatever findings and details from the House Ethics Committee will eventually come to light through either the FBI’s background check or the committee’s examination, or during the hearings.”

It is uncertain whether Gaetz has sufficient support for Senate confirmation as attorney general, even with a Republican majority. However, GOP senators may hesitate to oppose Trump’s selection after his significant election triumph.

Next year, Durbin, alongside the Democrats, will lose their power, and the GOP-controlled Senate will manage Gaetz’s confirmation process, with Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, likely heading the Judiciary Committee.

On Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson from Louisiana stated that he inquired with Gaetz about his decision to resign from his position. Gaetz referred to state law, which specifies “an eight-week period to select and fill a vacant seat.”

“If we start the timeline now and do the calculations, we might be able to appoint someone to that seat as soon as January 3, when we all take the oath of office for the new Congress,” Johnson explained.

Representative Madeleine Dean, a Democrat from Pennsylvania and a member of the House Judicial Committee, demanded on Thursday that the Ethics Committee should “publicly disclose their findings, allowing the chips to fall as they may.”

“One message from these appointments is that President-elect Trump is rewarding those who are loyal,” Dean remarked during an interview on CNN. “This represents clear corruption. In Trump’s first term, he attempted to surround himself with credible Republicans, many of whom were fired, dismissed, or chose to leave. This time, he is opting for loyalists instead.”