Directing the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives to release to the public the committee's report on its investigation into allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz.

Bill: 118-hres-1608
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
Introduced: 2024-12-05
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional committees

Congressional oversight

Digital media

Drug trafficking and controlled substances

Drug, alcohol, tobacco use

Elections, voting, political campaign regulation

Florida

Government ethics and transparency, public corruption

Government information and archives

House Committee on Ethics

House of Representatives

Legislative rules and procedure

Members of Congress

Sex offenses
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-05
text: Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

Summaries:

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1608 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 5, 2024 Mr. Casten submitted the following resolution; December 5, 2024 By motion of the House, referred to the Committee on Ethics RESOLUTION Directing the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives to release to the public the committee’s report on its investigation into allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz.

Whereas, on April 9, 2021, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives announced that it had begun to investigate allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused State identification records, converted campaign funds for personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift in violation of the Rules of the House, laws, or other standards of conduct; Whereas over three years, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives compiled an extensive investigative record pursuant to Committee Rules 14(a)(3) and 18(a) into allegations that Representative Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct; Whereas, on November 13, 2024, Representative Matt Gaetz announced his resignation from Congress; Whereas there is precedent for the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives to continue investigating and release reports of its investigations into former Members of the House of Representatives; Whereas, in 1987, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives released a report on its investigation into allegations of the misuse of campaign funds, improper gifts, the failure to reveal business interests on his financial disclosure, and the acceptance of a bribe by former Representative Bill Boner following his resignation from Congress; Whereas, in 1990, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives released a report on its investigations of sexual misconduct allegations, which included having sexual intercourse with a minor and making sexual advances towards a congressional employee, against former Representative Don Lukens following his resignation from Congress; Whereas, in 2006, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives released a report on its investigation of sexual misconduct allegations, which included sending sexually explicit messages to at least one minor, against former Representative Mark Foley following his resignation from Congress; Whereas, in 2011, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives continued its investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against former Representative Eric Massa following his resignation from Congress; and Whereas given the serious nature of the allegations against Representative Gaetz, a failure of the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives to publicly release its report on its investigation undermines the committee’s credibility and impedes the safety, dignity, and integrity of the legislative proceedings of the House: Now, therefore, be it

That the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives shall immediately release the latest draft of its report and a summary of its findings to the public, including any conclusions, draft reports, recommendations, attachments, exhibits and accompanying materials, with such redactions as may be necessary and appropriate to protect sensitive information, including witness identities, related to its investigation into allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz.