Rep. Susan Wild, the ranking Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, has expressed her support for making the panel’s report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz public. Despite concerns about the unusual nature of such a move, Wild emphasized the importance of transparency in this matter.
President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial choice of Gaetz for attorney general raised eyebrows due to ongoing investigations into allegations of sex trafficking and misconduct. The House panel’s decision to release its findings was halted when Gaetz resigned from Congress following his nomination.
Bipartisan calls have been made for the report to be made public, especially as confirmation hearings for Trump’s nominees approach. Wild asserted that the report should be shared with the Senate and the public, citing past practices of releasing investigative reports.
Rep. Michael Guest, a Republican from Mississippi, stated that he would not yield to pressure from House Speaker Mike Johnson to keep the report private. Johnson expressed concerns about the Ethics Committee’s power to investigate private citizens and release reports.
The Ethics Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss the report and may vote to release its findings. With a split decision between Republicans and Democrats, the final decision could defer to the Republicans in case of a tie.
Wild, who recently lost her reelection bid, stated that she would wait to see how the panel acts before taking further action. Her office did not respond immediately to inquiries about the report or her plans if her colleagues decide to keep it confidential.
