U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to reporters as House Republican leaders hold a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, USA, on November 12, 2024.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday that the House Ethics Committee's investigation into Matt Gaetz, President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. attorney general, is a “Pandora's box” and that the report from it will not be made public may become.
“As far as I know, the report is not ready yet. It is in a rough draft. It wasn't ready for release, and with Matt Gaetz leaving Congress, I don't think it's appropriate to do that,” the Louisiana Republican said Sunday on CNN's “State of the Union.”
The House Ethics Committee investigated allegations that Gaetz committed sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and other misconduct. Gaetz suddenly resigned from Congress just two days before the panel was set to vote on releasing his report, Punchbowl News reported last week.
“I think it would be a Pandora’s box. “I don’t think we want the House Ethics Committee to use all of its enormous resources and authority to go after private citizens, and that’s exactly what Matt Gaetz is now,” Johnson said.
Gaetz's resignation effectively ends the Ethics Committee's investigation, as the panel's reach is limited to members of the House of Representatives.
On Thursday, a lawyer for the woman who claims she had a sexual relationship with Gaetz when she was a minor said the ethics panel should release the report.
Johnson believes the Senate should not rely on the report when confirming the former Florida congressman.
“The Senate has a role, the advice and consent role, under the Constitution, and it will carry it out,” Johnson said. “They will have a rigorous review and vetting process in the Senate, but they will not have to rely on a report or a draft report, a rough draft report prepared by the Ethics Committee for their very limited purposes.”
Johnson and Gaetz did not immediately respond to CNBC's emails seeking comment.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., said Sunday that the House Ethics Committee “absolutely” should release the Gaetz report.
“The Senate must advise and consent to these individuals, and in that process we will give Matt Gaetz the same opportunities that we give all of President Trump's nominees,” Mullin said on NBC's “Meet the Press.” “If he’s qualified, he’s qualified. I would honestly say I didn't know he was a lawyer until after he was appointed attorney general and I had to do my research on him.”
Gaetz was previously embroiled in a federal investigation into whether he was involved in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. That investigation, which ended last year without charges being filed, was conducted by the Justice Department — the agency Gaetz would lead if confirmed as U.S. attorney general.
On Friday, a woman's lawyer told the Ethics Commission that she saw Gaetz having sex with a minor, NBC News reported.
“My client testified before the House Ethics Committee that she saw Rep. Gaetz having sex with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017,” said attorney Joel Leppard.
Gaetz has denied all allegations against him. In September, he said he would stop working with the House panel, while also sharing a letter in which he vehemently denied having had “sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18.”
—CNBC's Kevin Breuninger contributed to this story.
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