Speaker Mike Johnson Opposes Releasing Gaetz Ethics Report As Confirmation Fight Looms

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday urged the House Ethics Committee not to release its report into former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida.

Gaetz — who has been the subject of a slew of allegations, including sexual misconduct and illicit drug use — stepped down shortly after Trump nominated him for attorney general Wednesday. Now, Johnson is requesting the Ethics Committee not publish its investigation into Gaetz on the grounds that it would violate precedent and leave former congressmen exposed to attack after leaving office.

“I believe it is very important to maintain the House’s tradition of not issuing Ethics reports on people who are no longer members of Congress,” Johnson told reporters. “I think it would open a Pandora’s box. It’s a very important rule that should be maintained — if it’s been broken once or twice, it should not have been.”

The Ethics Committee was scheduled to meet Friday regarding the report, but it decided to postpone the meeting following Gaetz’s resignation.