Lawmakers have agreed that the report will be released after the House completes its legislative business for the year and members have returned to their districts.
This month, the House Ethics Committee discreetly voted to release an investigative report on the conduct of former Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, according to three individuals familiar with the situation.
The committee’s vote, initially reported by CNN, clears the way for the report’s release after House members cast their final votes of the congressional session this week and depart Washington for their districts, two sources confirmed.
This decision marks a significant reversal for the committee, which had previously chosen not to release the report. The move comes less than two weeks after House Republicans united to block a Democratic effort to force the report’s release, opting instead to return the matter to the Ethics Committee for further review.
The debate on Capitol Hill over the report escalated after President-elect Donald J. Trump announced last month that he had chosen Mr. Gaetz to lead the Justice Department. This decision sparked anger and concern among members of both parties on Capitol Hill who were aware of serious allegations against him.
Since the spring of 2021, the Ethics Committee has been investigating Mr. Gaetz over a range of accusations. These include engaging in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misusing state identification records, converting campaign funds to personal use, and accepting gifts that violated House rules.
Mr. Gaetz has denied the allegations.
On Wednesday, he condemned the news of the report’s impending release, noting that he had already been investigated by the Justice Department, which brought no charges against him.
On the social media platform X, Mr. Gaetz stated, “The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED.”
The Justice Department decided not to prosecute Mr. Gaetz after investigators determined they could not build a strong enough case to succeed in court. This decision was partly due to concerns that some potential witnesses might not hold up well under cross-examination, according to sources familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity at the time.
In his post on Wednesday, Mr. Gaetz denied key allegations against him, including claims that he had paid an underage girl for sex and solicited prostitutes, describing these accusations as misrepresentations of youthful indiscretions.
“In my single days, I often provided financial support to women I dated, and even to some I never dated but who asked for help. I was in relationships with several of these women for years. I want to make it clear that I never engaged in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18,” he stated. He continued, “My 30s were a time of intense work and equally intense leisure. It’s embarrassing, though not illegal, to admit that I probably partied, womanized, drank, and smoked more than I should have during that period. My life is very different now.”
Mr. Gaetz unexpectedly resigned after being selected by Mr. Trump to serve as attorney general. This led House Republican leaders to argue that the Ethics Committee should not disclose the findings of its investigation, as Mr. Gaetz was no longer a member of Congress and thus beyond its jurisdiction.
Mr. Gaetz withdrew his candidacy amid opposition from the Senate and is now scheduled to join the conservative One America News Network as an anchor in January.