Dem says Gaetz can't 'resign away' ethics probe; Mike Johnson says release would not be 'appropriate'

The bureau of Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said erstwhile Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., shouldn't beryllium capable to "resign away" an morals probe into misconduct allegations, citing Gaetz's information to service arsenic U.S. lawyer wide nether President-elect Trump. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has pushed for the House Ethics Committee not to merchandise a perchance damaging study connected a three-year probe of Gaetz amid allegations of intersexual misconduct with a insignificant and illicit cause use. 

Gaetz has denied the claims against him.

Gaetz's resignation efficaciously ended the probe due to the fact that helium is nary longer a subordinate of Congress. Speaking with reporters astatine the U.S. Capitol Friday, Johnson said releasing the study would "open a unsafe Pandora's box."

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Senate Judiciary Chairman Richard Durbin, D-Ill., talks with reporters astir the information of erstwhile Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to beryllium lawyer wide extracurricular a Senate Judiciary Committee markup Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.   (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Durbin spokesperson Josh Sorbe said the senator, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has pushed for the report's merchandise to the public. 

"There is longstanding precedent for releasing morals probe materials aft a subordinate resigns, whether successful the House oregon Senate," said Sorbe. "The present erstwhile congressman shouldn’t beryllium capable to resign distant an morals probe involving allegations of sedate misconduct, particularly erstwhile helium volition beryllium nominated to beryllium our country’s apical instrumentality enforcement officer.

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"There is bipartisan enactment for the Senate Judiciary Committee having entree to this information," helium added. "Chair Durbin volition proceed pursuing it truthful members of the committee tin fulfill their law work of proposal and consent connected this profoundly problematic nominee."

After quality broke Wednesday that Gaetz was chosen for the Trump Cabinet, House Ethics Committee Chair Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters the probe would extremity if Gaetz were to measurement down from Congress. 

Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., center; Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.; and Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., code the media aft the House Judiciary Committee passed 2 articles of impeachment against President Trump Dec. 13, 2019.  (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

On Friday, Johnson said helium won't beryllium reaching retired oregon speaking with the Ethics Committee to inquire it not to release the report erstwhile asked by Fox News. 

"I don't cognize thing astir the investigation. The talker of the House is not progressive with those things," Johnson said. "I americium reacting to media reports that a study is presently successful immoderate draught signifier and was going to beryllium released connected what is present a erstwhile subordinate of the House."

He added that helium didn't judge releasing the study would beryllium "appropriate."

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"It doesn't travel our rules and traditions, and determination is simply a crushed for that," said Johnson. "That would unfastened up Pandora's box, and I don't deliberation that's a steadfast happening for the institution. So, that's my position."

Gaetz's information has travel nether occurrence by immoderate considering the allegations against him. Some GOP members of the Senate person said helium faces an uphill conflict to get confirmed.