In a reversal from last month, the House Ethics Committee has voted to publicly release the findings of the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz. According to NBC News, the report could be made public as soon as this week. Previously, the panel voted along party lines last month not to release the results of the investigation. House panel votes to release Gaetz ethics report https://t.co/fzFtq17t3V — John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) December 18, 2024 Per CNN: When the committee voted last month to shelve the report, Gaetz was President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be attorney general. Since then, Gaetz withdrew himself from consideration for the Senate-confirmed post, though he maintains frosty relations with many in his party and is still active in GOP politics. It is exceedingly rare for an ethics report to be released after a member has left Congress, though it has happened on a couple of occasions in the past. The committee revisited the issue behind closed doors earlier this month after a feud over the report spilled into public view before Thanksgiving. The Ethics Committee’s report concludes a years-long probe into numerous allegations against Gaetz, including whether he engaged in sexual misconduct, used illicit drugs, “shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gifts,” according to an announcement by the panel last summer. Gaetz has vigorously denied all the allegations and has characterized the investigation as a witch hunt. Gaetz responded after news broke that the investigation’s findings would be made public. “The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me. Then, the very ‘witnesses’ DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued. Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body,” Gaetz said. “In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court. My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too,” he continued. “It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now. But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s that f*** over the country!” he added. The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me. Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were… — Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 18, 2024 NBC News reports: The release of the Gaetz report goes against the wishes of House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who had argued repeatedly that releasing a report into someone who is no longer a member of Congress would be “terrible precedent.” The Ethics Committee only has jurisdiction over current — not former — members of Congress. But on several occasions, the Ethics panel has published investigative reports about members who had recently left office. For example, Rep. Bill Boner, D-Tenn., resigned Oct. 5, 1987, to become mayor of Nashville. The Ethics Committee released an initial staff report the following December examining allegations that Boner misused campaign funds, failed to disclose gifts and accepted bribes. Gaetz had also been investigated by the Department of Justice over allegations of sex trafficking. That investigation ended without charges.