House panel meets to reconsider releasing Gaetz ethics report; full chamber vote could force release

The House committee that compiled an ethics report on Matt Gaetz before the Florida Republican resigned from the chamber will meet again Thursday on whether to release the findings – amid a looming floor vote that could force the panel to do so.

The report is in response to allegations that Gaetz, while a congressman, engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor, claims he has strongly denied.

The Justice Department conducted its own investigation that concluded last year without charges.

Gaetz resigned from office Nov. 13, the same day GOP President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to be attorney general.

He withdrew his nomination Nov. 21, after apparently knowing he didn't have enough Senate votes to be confirmed to the post.

Democratic Reps. Sean Casten of Illinois and Steve Cohen of Tennessee each introduced legislation Tuesday to try to force the report to be made public.

Because both resolutions are “privileged,” they have to be voted upon within two legislative days of them being introduced, according to NBC News.

However, they are each slightly different. 

Casten’s resolution would direct the committee to release its report to the public, while Cohen’s resolution would force the committee to preserve and release records of its review of Gaetz.