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Senate Republicans Call for Release of Ethics Report on Matt Gaetz

Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, poised to assume the role of Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated on Tuesday that the House Ethics Committee’s report on former Representative Matt Gaetz could expedite the Senate’s deliberation regarding his potential appointment as head of the Justice Department.

In remarks captured by a CNN camera crew at the Capitol, Grassley emphasized that “if they want a speedy consideration of this … it would help faster consideration, the extent to which they would make as much available as they can.”

Grassley acknowledged that several of his Republican colleagues harbor concerns regarding Gaetz’s qualifications for the position of attorney general.

He joins a chorus of Republican senators urging the House Ethics Committee to make its findings on Gaetz public, amid allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.

Senator John Cornyn from Texas, who is also on the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighted the importance of transparency, stating, “I don’t believe there should be any restriction, including on that.” He contended that senators involved in the voting process need access to all pertinent materials.

Additionally, Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma echoed the call for the report’s release during an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” affirming that the outcomes of the investigation should play a crucial role in their decision-making, saying, “The background of Matt Gaetz does matter.”

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, expressed serious concerns regarding Gaetz’s abrupt resignation from the House. Durbin pointed out that the House Ethics Committee rarely divulges reports concerning former lawmakers, especially when a resignation occurs ahead of such a disclosure.

According to sources, Gaetz resigned from Congress just as the Ethics Committee was set to unveil its report, which Durbin stated “cannot be hidden from the American people.” He underscored that this information might be significant to the Senate’s constitutional duty of offering advice and consent for Gaetz’s nomination.

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, alongside other House Republicans, has advocated for keeping the Ethics Committee’s report confidential. Johnson cautioned against the ramifications of releasing reports on individuals no longer serving in Congress, stating, “It should not come out,” during his conversation on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Source
thehill.com