Former Rep. Matt Gaetz Files Lawsuit to Block Release of Ethics Report
Former Representative Matt Gaetz filed a lawsuit in Washington, DC on Monday, seeking to block the official release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing allegations of his misconduct while in office. The report reportedly includes findings of alleged sexual misconduct and drug use by Gaetz.
In his lawsuit, Gaetz argued that releasing the report would cause “immediate, severe and irreversible” damage to his reputation, particularly due to widespread media coverage. He also claimed he was not notified of the panel’s plans to release the report and was not provided with copies of the materials.
Gaetz and his lawyers have maintained that he is innocent of any wrongdoing and have called on the committee to cease the investigation and provide him with due process rights. In a statement, Gaetz said that he had requested a courtroom setting to present evidence and challenge witnesses, rather than having the allegations made public on Christmas Eve.
The lawsuit also contended that the committee had no jurisdiction over former members and had failed to adhere to its own procedural rules and precedent. The release of the report was seemingly rendered moot hours after Gaetz filed the lawsuit, as the committee made it publicly available on its website.
