The House Ethics Committee may ignore Speaker Mike Johnson’s recommendation to withhold releasing its investigation of Matt Gaetz.
House Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) signaled his committee is likely to ignore Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) recommendation to withhold releasing its investigation of Matt Gaetz (R-FL).
Matt Gaetz, who stepped down after President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination for Attorney General, is no longer a member of the House and therefore no longer under the committee’s purview. Johnson has openly opposed the release of the report and urged the committee to withhold it, a sentiment he relayed personally to Guest over the weekend, the chairman told Politico.
“I appreciate Mike reaching out,” Guest told Politico. “I don’t see it having an impact on what we as a committee ultimately decide.”
The committee meets Wednesday, where it is expected to discuss whether or not to release its report on Gaetz.
The Ethics Committee — which, lacking a legislative jurisdiction, provides its members no capability to extract campaign funds from the donor class — is not highly sought after by members of Congress and is generally seen as a chore. Its members usually serve by request of their party’s respective leader and are usually appointed for their loyalty to leadership — often in exchange for other favors quietly bestowed by leadership.
The fiery Gaetz has been a thorn in leadership’s side since arriving in Washington, consistently targeting entrenched interests and corruption in Washington. Most notably, Gaetz led the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Gaetz has denied wrongdoing and argues the Ethics investigation is retaliation for robbing McCarthy of his gavel.
At a CPAC event earlier in 2024, Gaetz blasted congressional stock trading practices, singling out Guest for his trading record.
“For the same reason you don’t let the umpire bet on the game, members of congress should not be allowed to trade individual stocks,” he said. “How about the Ethics Committee take up those reforms?”
Gaetz, pointing out that Guest voted for the establishment of the January 6 Commission to target Trump, then specifically addressed the Ethics Committee chairman.
“He has become a brilliant stock trader while in office, and I admire the obvious genius,” Gaetz said of Guest. “He knew exactly the right time to buy online gambling stocks.
