On Thursday, House Republicans twice blocked the release of a potentially damaging report from the House Committee on Ethics regarding former Rep. Matt Gaetz, effectively burying allegations of sexual misconduct and drug abuse that had partially derailed his attempt to be confirmed as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general.
In quick succession, the House voted along near party lines, with votes of 206-198 and 204-198, sending the matter back to the Ethics panel. Rep. Tom McClintock of California was the only Republican to break ranks, voting with Democrats to push for the public release of the scandal, the New York Post reported.
Reps. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) and Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) introduced competing measures on Tuesday as privileged resolutions, which necessitate a vote within two legislative days. Casten’s resolution called for the release of the report, while Cohen’s resolution demanded both the release and preservation of the documents.
