Bipartisan calls grow to release House ethics report on AG nominee Matt Gaetz amid sexual misconduct allegations

Senators from both parties demanded Thursday to see a potentially damning House Ethics Committee report on far-right former Rep.Matt Gaetz before deciding whether to confirm him as attorney general.

Gaetz, 42, hastily tendered his resignation late Wednesday, hours after President-elect Donald Trump announced him as the choice to lead the Justice Department.By leaving Congress, the Florida Republican stopped an investigation by the House Ethics Committee in its tracks, and left the panel’s report — which could include details of sex trafficking allegations and other purported wrongdoing — in limbo.The panel reportedly was slated to vote on Friday on the question of making the report public.However, with Gaetz out of Congress and no longer subject to the ethics committee’s jurisdiction, precedent dictates that the report would be put on ice.However, with Gaetz in line to become the top US law enforcement officer, lawmakers and other key figures were demanding an exception be made.

“Mr.Gaetz’s likely nomination as Attorney General is a perverse development in a truly dark series of events,” John Clune, a Colorado-based attorney for an individual who has accused Gaetz of misconduct stemming from an incident that took place when the accusant was a minor, wrote on X Thursday.“We would support the House Ethics Committee immediately releasing their report,” Clune added.

“She was a high school student and there were witnesses.” Gaetz has adamantly denied wrongdoing and cited the Justice Department’s decision not to bring charges against him as evidence of his innocence.Sen.

John Cornyn (R-Texas), who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee and unsuccessfully vied to lead the Senate GOP Conference Wednesday, told reporters Thursday that he “absolutely” wants to see the ethics report on Gaetz.“I can’t understand any situation under which we would deny ourselves access to full and complete information,” the Texan said.

“Part of this is no...