Connect with us

CBS News

House Ethics Committee planned to vote Friday on whether to release report on Matt Gaetz

Avatar

Published

on


The House Ethics Committee, which has been conducting an investigation into sexual misconduct and obstruction allegations against Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, scheduled a vote for Friday on whether to release its report, according to three sources with knowledge of the committee’s work. 

Hours after President-elect Donald Trump said he planned to nominate Gaetz to be attorney general, Gaetz resigned his congressional seat, effective immediately. 

“I do not intend to take the oath of office for the same office in the 119th Congress, to pursue the position of Attorney General in the Trump Administration,” Gaetz said in his resignation letter obtained by CBS News 

House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that there was about an eight-week period during which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could fill his seat by setting the date for a special election.

Now that Gaetz has resigned, it is unclear whether the panel will vote on releasing the report, since Gaetz is no longer in Congress.

There is precedent in Congress on the Senate side for an ethics committee report to become public after a member resigns from Congress, however. In 2011, this happened when Sen. John Ensign of Nevada resigned amid allegations that he tried to hide an extramarital affair.

But it’s not clear that that would apply to the House, leaving open the possibility that the report on Gaetz would not be released. 

In June, the House Ethics Committee released a statement saying it was investigating a range of allegations against Gaetz, including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and bribery.  

Multiple sources at the time told CBS News that four women had informed the House Ethics Committee that they had been paid to go to parties that included sex and drugs, and that Gaetz had also attended. The committee has Gaetz’s Venmo transactions that allegedly show payments for the women. 

Gaetz has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has called the committee’s investigation a “frivolous” smear campaign.

Some of the allegations of sexual misconduct under review by the committee were also the subject of a previous Department of Justice probe into Gaetz.  Federal investigators sought to determine if Gaetz violated sex trafficking and obstruction of justice laws, but no charges were filed.  

The House Ethics Committee resumed its investigation into Gaetz in 2023, following the Justice Department’s decision not to pursue charges against him.  

Gaetz has long blamed then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, also a Republican, for the probe. And Gaetz later led the movement to sack McCarthy as speaker. 



Read the original article

Leave your vote

CBS News

Emergency drought warning in New Jersey as fire rages

Avatar

Published

on


Emergency drought warning in New Jersey as fire rages – CBS News


Watch CBS News



A fire is burning along the New Jersey-New York border as an emergency drought warning emerges. CBS News’ Tom Hanson has the latest.

Be the first to know

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.




Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

CBS News

Behind Biden’s meetings with China’s Xi, Trump

Avatar

Published

on


Behind Biden’s meetings with China’s Xi, Trump – CBS News


Watch CBS News



President Biden is at the APEC summit in Lima, Peru, where he will meet with China’s Xi Jinping. CBS News’ Natalie Brand has the latest on the significance of the meeting and more details on President-elect Donald Trump’s chat with Mr. Biden.

Be the first to know

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.




Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

CBS News

Tropical Storm Sara near Mexico, could strengthen and slam U.S.

Avatar

Published

on


Tropical Storm Sara near Mexico, could strengthen and slam U.S. – CBS News


Watch CBS News



Tropical Storm Sara is sitting off the shore of Honduras and Mexico and could travel to the Gulf of Mexico and strengthen over warmer waters. CBS News Bay Area meteorologist Jessica Burch has the latest forecast.

Be the first to know

Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.




Read the original article

Leave your vote

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024 Breaking MN

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.