House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Friday that he believes the House Ethics Committee should not release its findings on Rep.
Matt Gaetz’s investigation now that Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress.
Johnson argued that releasing such a report would violate the House’s tradition of not issuing ethics reports on former members, which he said could “open a Pandora’s box.”
Although Johnson had previously said he could not involve himself in the timing or release of the report, he weighed in on the issue publicly, a rare move for a House speaker, as they typically avoid interfering in committee investigations.
The Ethics Committee had been investigating Gaetz for alleged sexual misconduct and drug use before his resignation.
There is growing bipartisan pressure for the report to be released, but it remains unclear how the committee will proceed now that Gaetz has stepped down.
Johnson claimed he had not been briefed on the investigation and had not discussed it with President-elect Donald Trump.
He emphasized that, in his view, ethics investigations should not continue or be published for former members of Congress.
