House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) influence over the House Ethics Committee has been challenged by its Republican chair, Michael Guest (R-MS), who stated that Speaker Johnson does not dictate the committee’s decisions regarding the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). This declaration comes as the bipartisan committee faces pressure to release a potentially explosive report on Gaetz, who is under investigation for serious allegations, including child sex trafficking, drug use, and improper acceptance of gifts.
The Ethics Committee is tasked with deciding whether to make the report public. While Speaker Johnson has argued that, since Gaetz resigned from Congress following a nomination from Donald Trump to serve as attorney general, the Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction over the matter, many experts disagree. They point out that former members of Congress have been subjects of Ethics Committee investigations, and reports have been released after they resigned.
Speaker Johnson’s Pressure and the Ethics Committee’s Independence
Despite Speaker Johnson’s stance, which reflects his belief that the committee should not release the report on Gaetz due to his resignation, Michael Guest emphasized that the committee’s decision will not be swayed by external pressures. In a conversation with Politico, Guest explained, “We did talk this weekend. I appreciate Mike reaching out, but I don’t see it having an impact on what we as a committee ultimately decide.”
Guest also clarified that he has not received any direct communication from the Trump transition team regarding the matter, further reinforcing his position of independence from political influence.
Mounting Pressure from Senate Republicans
While Johnson has argued against releasing the report, there is significant pressure from Senate Republicans, who want to review the contents of the report before making any decisions about Gaetz’s potential nomination. Their push underscores the heightened scrutiny surrounding Gaetz, particularly following his controversial resignation, which came shortly after Trump’s nomination for him to serve as attorney general.
The Ethics Committee, which was originally scheduled to vote on the report’s release last Friday, delayed the vote. The committee has now rescheduled the vote for Wednesday, with both parties awaiting a decision that could have lasting implications for Gaetz’s political future.
