Trump's election of Matt Gaetz as AG brings the intercourse and drug investigation within the Home of Representatives into focus

Several Republican senators reacted coolly to President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general, casting doubt on the former Florida congressman's chances of being confirmed by the Senate.

Wednesday's surprise announcement and Gaetz's quick resignation from Congress also drew attention to a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that Gaetz committed sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and other wrongdoing.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican on the Judiciary panel that will decide whether to advance Gaetz's nomination to the full Senate, said Thursday morning that he “absolutely” wants to see the ethics report.

“I think there should be no limitation on the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigations, including what the House Ethics Committee generates,” Cornyn told reporters on Capitol Hill.

He added that while it was “premature to count the votes,” there were “many questions.”

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 attorney general.

Gaetz has denied all allegations made 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.”

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.

“The likely appointment of Mr. Gaetz as attorney general is a perverse development in a truly dark series of events. We would support the House Ethics Committee releasing its report immediately,” wrote John Clune, partner at Hutchinson Black and Cook, on X.

“She was a high school student and there were witnesses,” the lawyer added.

A lawyer for Gaetz did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

Given the unusual sequence of events surrounding Trump's announcement, calls for the committee to release its report have become increasingly urgent.

Trump's selection of Gaetz and the lawmaker's decision to abruptly resign from Congress on the same day came just two days before the panel was set to vote on releasing its report on the sex and drug investigations, Punchbowl News reported Wednesday, citing sources.

Gaetz's resignation effectively ends the Ethics Committee's investigation, as the panel's sphere of influence is limited to members of the House of Representatives.

Chairman Michael Guest, R-Miss., told reporters Wednesday that if Gaetz resigned to take the role of attorney general, “the Ethics Commission would lose jurisdiction at that point.”

The ethics panel was scheduled to meet behind closed doors on Thursday, a source familiar with the situation told NBC. It was unclear whether the committee would discuss Gaetz or vote on the report during that confidential meeting.

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Several Senate Republicans reacted Wednesday to Gaetz's selection to head the Justice Department with confusion and skepticism.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she was “shocked” by the decision and predicted that “a lot of questions will be asked” if his nomination is accepted.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she doesn't believe Gaetz is “a serious nominee for attorney general.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., another member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said: “I'm all about counting votes, and I would probably think he still has some work to do.”

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said of Gaetz's expected nomination: “He has a lot of work ahead of him.”

But others appeared ready to support Gaetz's bid.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the Judiciary panel's ranking Republican, said in a news release Thursday afternoon: “In general, I vote for confirmation, regardless of party or personal feelings, because that is my constitutional role as a senator.”

“I will do the same for President Trump’s nominees,” Graham said in the statement, sent via email with the subject line “Elections have consequences.”

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said Thursday on MSNBC's “Andrea Mitchell Reports”: “For me, there's no problem. I want to see President Trump’s Cabinet appointed quickly.”

Hagerty said, “There was no one better at channeling the American public’s frustration with the weaponization of the Justice Department than Matt Gaetz.”

When Republicans take control of the Senate in January, they are expected to have a narrow majority of two or three seats. Assuming all Senate Democrats vote against Gaetz's nomination, Trump can only afford a few defections from the Republican Party before he would lose the simple majority needed to confirm his pick for AG.

Trump has demanded that the next Republican leader in the Senate agree to send senators home for at least 10 days, paving the way for Trump to make “pause appointments” that would allow him to install Cabinet members and bypass individual confirmation votes altogether.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said Wednesday after being selected to replace outgoing Sen. Mitch McConnell as majority leader that Republicans would “explore all options” to ensure Trump's nominees move forward quickly.