The House Ethics Committee will vote Thursday on whether its long-awaited investigation report into allegations of sexual misconduct and potential illegal activity involving a former Florida Republican congressman Matt Goetz will be made public.
The report in question details allegations that Goetz engaged in illegal drug use, misuse of campaign funds and sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl, as well as allegations of obstructing a House investigation. Goetz has consistently denied the allegations.
The move comes weeks after Goetz resigned from Congress and withdrew as a potential candidate for the Trump administration when it became clear he did not have enough support from senators to survive a confirmation hearing. Democrats, led by Reps. Sean Caston and Steve Cohen, tried to force the release of the report through privilege motions, arguing that transparency was critical.
Casten’s resolution sent to House two days before the votesaid withholding the report would “undermine confidence in the committee and impede the safety, dignity and integrity of legislative proceedings.”
But if the panel sides with Chairman Michael Guest, Republican of Mississippi, the vote would fail after arguing that the panel’s investigative jurisdiction ends when a member leaves Congress.
“He is no longer a member,” Guest told reporters Thursday. “He will no longer be confirmed by the Senate because he withdrew his nomination for attorney general.”
But if the vote in the commission reaches a dead end – a possibility due to A 50-50 ideological split – a full vote will be brought to the House of Representatives on Thursday night, with all lawmakers on the record.
The decision will grant or withhold public access to a report that was in the process of being drafted and is said to contain detailed findings about allegations of sexual misconduct involving an underage girl and potential drug use.
The potential revelations in the report could have significant political implications, especially since Goetz is said to be considering running for governor of Florida in 2026 or seek another role in a future Trump administration.
The investigation, which has been going on for years, received additional scrutiny after Goetz’s associate Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty in 2021 to pay women and underage girls for sexual services.
