WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans on the House Ethics Committee voted Wednesday against releasing a report on the panel's long-running investigation into President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, the top Democrat on the panel said. Rep.
Susan Wild of Pennsylvania said the ethics panel, which is evenly split between the two parties, voted at a lengthy closed-door meeting, and no Republican joined Democrats who wanted to release the report. Wild said she was compelled to speak up after the panel's Republican chairman, Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi, characterized what had transpired at its session.
He had said there was no agreement reached on the matter. “It was not my intention to make any comment,” Wild said. But she said she did not want "the American public or anyone else to think that Mr.
Guest’s characterization of what transpired today would be some sort of indication that the committee had unanimity or consensus on this issue not to release the report.” The impasse on the panel comes as Gaetz launched an effort to personally secure his embattled nomination, meeting behind closed doors Wednesday with Republican senators who have heard questions about the sexual misconduct and other allegations against him. At least one Republican senator decried the scrutiny as a “lynch mob” forming against Gaetz, who if confirmed would become the nation's top law enforcement official.
“I’m not going to legitimize the process t.
