November 14, 2024
Washington, D.C. — Republican Senator John Cornyn (TX) stated he “absolutely” wants to examine the House Ethics Committee’s investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL), shortly after President Donald Trump’s nomination of Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General was announced. Gaetz, known for his vocal criticism of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his challenges to the GOP establishment, resigned from Congress on Wednesday evening following Trump’s nomination.
In a statement shared by the Trump campaign, the former president expressed his enthusiasm for Gaetz’s nomination, citing his legal acumen and commitment to reform within the Department of Justice. “It is my great honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be the Attorney General of the United States,” Trump said. “Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice.”
Gaetz’s immediate resignation caught some GOP leaders off guard. House Speaker Mike Johnson remarked on Gaetz’s swift departure, explaining that Gaetz felt it was necessary to minimize absences as he transitioned out of his congressional role. “Out of deference to us, he issued his resignation letter effective immediately,” Johnson shared. “That caught us by surprise a little bit, but he said you can’t have too many absences.”
Now, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has an eight-week window to appoint a replacement for Gaetz’s congressional seat.
The House Ethics Committee had been conducting an investigation into Gaetz over allegations of misconduct, initially brought forth years ago. These claims resurfaced in 2023 as Gaetz launched challenges against McCarthy, eventually leading to McCarthy’s ousting as House Speaker. The Committee’s probe was reportedly nearing the release of a potentially “damaging” report on Gaetz; however, his resignation from Congress has halted the House Ethics Committee’s jurisdiction over the case.
Despite the Biden DOJ’s dismissal of all criminal charges against Gaetz in February 2023, Cornyn indicated a strong interest in revisiting the Ethics Committee’s findings. “I think there should not be any limitation on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation, including what the House Ethics Committee generated,” Cornyn told reporters on Thursday. When asked by ABC’s Rachel Scott if he was certain about reviewing the report, Cornyn, who is a minority member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, replied, “Absolutely.”
Cornyn’s eagerness to scrutinize Gaetz’s ethics record has drawn attention, particularly as he recently lost his bid to lead the Senate as Majority Leader. Some critics within the GOP have labeled Cornyn a “RINO” for his moderate stances and actions against more conservative figures like Gaetz, who has been an outspoken advocate of “America First” policies.
The Ethics Committee’s report is expected to remain under wraps unless the Senate Judiciary Committee takes further steps.
