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On Sunday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican, urged the House to release a confidential ethics report concerning allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor against Matt Gaetz, who was recently selected by President-elect Trump as attorney general nominee.
Gaetz, aged 42, stepped down from his House position on Wednesday, shortly after Trump’s nomination announcement and just before the anticipated release of the House Ethics Committee’s report, which also investigated claims of drug use. Gaetz maintains his innocence.
BREAKING: We are resurfacing this clip of Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin calling Matt Gaetz a sexual predator for no particular reason. pic.twitter.com/sGGImy0qlM
— Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) November 13, 2024
During his appearance on “Meet the Press,” Mullin emphasized the Senate’s need to review the House Ethics Committee’s report, given their role in confirming presidential appointments, though he remained noncommittal about whether it should be publicly disclosed.
Gaetz joins other Trump cabinet picks who diverge from traditional qualification standards for high-ranking government positions. His confirmation requires Senate approval, where Republicans will hold at least 52 seats, though some members have expressed reservations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended his opposition to releasing the ethics report on Sunday, stating on CNN: “There have been, I understand, I think, two exceptions to the rule over the whole history of Congress and the history of the Ethics Committee.”
Johnson added: “The speaker does not have the authority to stop the release of a report by the ethics committee, but I’ve just simply said what I believe is an obvious point, that we don’t want to go down that road.”
BREAKING: Senator Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) Pledges to Give Gaetz a Chance After Previously Blasting Him, Admits He Didn’t Know Gaetz Was a Lawyer, Defends Trump Over Nominees Including RFK Jr., and Questions: ‘Why Is America Highest in Autism? All Things Should Be on the… pic.twitter.com/llti4G2nYS
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) November 17, 2024
Despite previously criticizing Gaetz’s conduct, including instances where Gaetz showed explicit photos to House colleagues, Mullin pledged to evaluate the nomination fairly.
The Justice Department’s three-year investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving a minor concluded without criminal charges against Gaetz, according to his office’s 2023 statement.
The attorney representing the alleged minor victim has requested public disclosure of the ethics report.
