House Speaker Mike Johnson explained his opposition to releasing the House Ethics Committee’s report on Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., on Sunday.
Johnson, R-Louisiana, made the comments during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” with host Shannon Bream. He argued that releasing such a report after Gaetz resigned could open a “Pandora’s box.” Gaetz resigned from Congress last week, shortly after President-elect Trump nominated him to serve as U.S. attorney general.
Bream began by asking Johnson if he was aware of the contents of the ethics report, which concerned alleged sexual misconduct.
“I don’t know anything about the content of the report because the way the rules work, of course, the Speaker of the House cannot put his thumb on the scale or participate in an Ethics Committee report. What I do know is that the Comments about there being a precedent for publishing reports are not exactly accurate,” Johnson said.
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Speaker Mike Johnson defends Gaetz against calls for the House Ethics Committee to release a report on the former representative. (Getty Images)
“There is a very important reason for the tradition and the rule that we have always had – almost always followed – and that is that we do not issue investigations or ethics reports on people who are not members of Congress. I’m afraid that will open a Pandora’s box because “The jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee is limited to those who serve in the institution and I believe this would be a violation of protocol that could be dangerous for us in the future.” he added.
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ABC News reported On Thursday, a woman testified before the ethics committee that she had sexual relations with Gaetz when she was 17 years old. The House investigation ceased when Gaetz resigned Wednesday.
Gaetz told Fox News Digital in response to the new report: “These allegations are fabricated and would constitute false testimony before Congress. This false smear following a three-year criminal investigation should be viewed with great skepticism.”
Matt Gaetz has been nominated to serve as Trump’s attorney general. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The top lawyer for the House Ethics Committee declined to comment when asked by Fox News Digital.
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Fox News Digital also reached out to Gaetz’s congressional office for comment.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) had previously spoken with the woman, now in her 20s, according to ABC, as part of its years-long investigation into Gaetz related to allegations of sex trafficking and obstruction of justice.
In the end, the Justice Department did not bring charges and Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The details of the matter could come to light if Gaetz passes through the Senate confirmation process to head the department that once investigated him.
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Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, suggested he would like to see the report.
“I think there should be no limitations on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including what the House Ethics Committee has generated,” he told reporters.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind and Tyler Olsen contributed to this report.
