Speaker Johnson seeks to block release of ethics report on Gaetz nomination

House Speaker Mike Johnson has requested that the Ethics Committee not release a report on sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Johnson argues that former members are beyond the committee's jurisdiction. Gaetz resigned from Congress, ending the ethics investigation just before the report was expected to be made public. He has denied any wrongdoing and was previously told by prosecutors he would not face charges related to a sex-trafficking investigation. Senate Judiciary Committee members from both parties want to review the report as part of Gaetz's confirmation process. Johnson's stance reflects concerns about setting a precedent for releasing such reports on former members.