Former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz sued the House Ethics Committee and asked for a temporary restraining order to stop the public release of a report that came out of an investigation into allegations of sexual and drug misconduct.
The former Republican in the House recently resigned from Congress after being named Attorney General by President-elect Donald Trump. At that time, the private ethics report was about to be made public, but the investigation was put on hold when he left Congress.
However, the committee decided in a secret vote late last week that the report should be made public.
Gaetz has previously denied all allegations of misconduct.
CNN’s Scott MacFarlane says that Gaetz’s argument for a restraining order to stop the report from being released was that “media coverage would be immediate and widespread.”
CBS reportedly accessed a “final draft” of the Gaetz investigation report. On Monday the network reported on the findings that the former congressman “paid numerous women — including a 17-year-old girl — for sex” as well as “purchased and used illegal drugs, including from his Capitol Hill office.”
FLASH: Matt Gaetz files suit against House Ethics Committee, seeking temporary restraining order to prevent public release of committee investigation of his alleged sexual and drug misconduct
Among other things, Gaetz argues: “Media coverage would be immediate and widespread” pic.twitter.com/AbMwDoKNqM
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) December 23, 2024
Gaetz is set to host his own show on the One America News Network.
Ginger Gaetz, the former Florida congressman’s wife, later stated on X that the show would start in January. She wrote in a vague post on the social media site on Sunday that “big news” was coming this week and included a picture of her husband. On OAN’s website, it says that The Matt Gaetz Show is “coming soon.”
The news comes just a few weeks after the former Florida congressman quit Congress and later took back his bid to be President-elect Trump’s next attorney general, Newsweek reported.
Calls for the House Ethics Committee to share a report on its investigation into Gaetz were an “unfair distraction” that caused him to withdraw his nomination. Gaetz has rejected all of the charges that the panel looked into, including claims that he used drugs and dated a 17-year-old girl while he was in office.
Since he pulled his name from consideration to lead the Department of Justice, Gaetz’s position had not been clear. In an interview with Charlie Kirk on November 22, he said that he had no plans to run for Congress again next year.
Matt Gaetz Joins OAN Primetime Lineup, Show Premieres January 2025 https://t.co/ETFEoCGbl2 #OAN @mattgaetz pic.twitter.com/CvD1rqIkyI
— One America News (@OANN) December 10, 2024
Gaetz has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor of Florida when Ron DeSantis’s term ends in 2026. He has also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Florida Senator Marco Rubio if he is chosen to be Trump’s next secretary of state.
Gaetz shared a brief Cameo video on social media last week, dropping hints about his future plans.
Newsmax host Bianca de la Garza discussed the future of Florida Republican with conservative activist Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, during a segment this week. The two speculated on Gaetz’s next moves following his withdrawal from consideration after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for U.S. attorney general.
“Matt Gaetz withdrew his name, Pam Bondi was selected. But Gaetz is having a little bit of fun on Cameo posting some videos here. I’ll play a little clip of this just in time for the holiday season. I guess it’s the holiday greeting we didn’t know we needed,” de la Garza said as she introduced the clip.
“What’s up Chris, this is Matt Gaetz,” the former GOP lawmaker said, appearing to address FBI Director Christopher Wray. “I know you’re bummed out I’m not going to be taking out the garbage at the Department of Justice, but don’t despair. We’ve got an awesome attorney general coming in, Pam Bondi, and you know what? They can stop one of us, but they can’t stop all of us.”
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