The House Ethics Committee investigation on Matt Gaetz continues to make headlines even if it's release continues to be in doubt following his abrupt resignation after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to become the next attorney general.
House Speaker Mike Johnson came out to speak against the release of the probe, which revolves around him having sex with a minor. Speaking to press on Friday, Johnson said he was going to "strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report." "I do not. No, I think it's a terrible breach of protocol," Johnson added, saying "that is not the way we do things in the House, and I think that would be a terrible precedent."
But regardless of the formal process, more details of the alleged behavior continue to surface. A report from last week detailed that one of the women at the center of the report testified before the committee that the now former lawmaker had sex with her when she was 17, sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News. Now in her 20s, the woman testified for several days to the committee, recounting that the politician approached her sexually while she was a minor in high school.
Now, an attorney representing two women who testified provided new details about his clients' testimonies. Joel Leppard, who is pushing for the release of the probe, revealed that his clients said they attended more than five and as many as 10 "sex parties" with Gaetz between mid-2017 and 2018. They described there were "group sex situations" and the presence of illegal drugs in the parties, according to Monday's POLITICO Playbook.
Gaetz continues to deny all allegations. On Friday he said the ABC News reporting were "invented and would constitute false testimony to Congress."
Immediately after Donald Trump announced him as the nominee on Wednesday, Gaetz resigned from his role in the Congress, a strategy that appeared to seek avoiding further scrutiny, triggering an eight-week process under Florida law to fill his seat. Gaetz's resignation virtually ended the committee's investigation, which has been described as "highly damaging."
Trump's nomination of Gaetz as attorney general is coming under heavy criticism, even within his party. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters on Thursday that several Republican senators are unwilling to confirm Gaetz as attorney general.
In fact, Senate Republicans, including Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), reacted with shock and disapproval, according to Punchbowl News. Many privately added that some senators believed Gaetz would struggle to secure the votes necessary for confirmation.
However, Trump could still get his way even if the Senate doesn't support Gaetz. He's pushing for the GOP-led Senate to take extended breaks that would allow him to make recess appointments.
These types of appointments allow presidents to fill out their administrations while the Senate is in recess. Historically, Congress would take months-long breaks from Washington, and presidents could use recess appointments to avoid having an important job go unfilled. But recently, the process has been featured in partisan fights with the president.
Experts in American democracy say Trump's call for recess appointments is the first major post-election test for Republicans in Congress of whether they will stand up for traditional checks and balances or bend to Trump's desire not to have his choices questioned, according to The Washington Post.
If the Senate ends up agreeing to adjourn for the purpose of Trump filling his government without congressional input, it would be "an absolute abdication of their constitutional power," said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at Georgia Washington University.
Originally published on Latin Times.
