[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 172 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6138-H6139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   NOTICE OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING A QUESTION OF THE 
                        PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

  Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I 
rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the 
privileges of the House.
  The form of the resolution as is follows:
  Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release 
records of the Committee's review of the alleged violations of the 
House Code of Conduct and Federal law by Representative Matthew Louis 
Gaetz II of Florida.
  Whereas, Matthew Louis Gaetz II of Florida served in the House of 
Representatives from January 3, 2017, through November 13, 2024;
  Whereas, Clause 2 of Section 5 of Article I of the Constitution of 
the United States establishes that: ``Each House may determine the 
rules of its proceedings [and] punish its Members for disorderly 
behavior'';
  Whereas, clause 3(a)(2) of rule XI of the House of Representatives 
provides the Committee on Ethics the authority to investigate alleged 
violations by a Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or 
employee of the House of the Code of Official Conduct or of a law, 
rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the 
conduct of such Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, or 
employee in the performance of the duties or the discharge of the 
responsibilities of such individual;
  Whereas, on April 9, 2021, the Committee on Ethics initiated review 
of allegations that Representative Gaetz may have engaged in sexual 
misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or 
videos on the House floor, misused State identification records, 
converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, 
improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House rules, 
laws, or other standards of conduct in violation of Federal law and the 
rules of the House;
  Whereas, on June 18, 2024, the Committee on Ethics released a 
statement acknowledging the Committee's continued review of allegations 
that Representative Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and 
illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges 
and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and 
sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct;
  Whereas, if Representative Gaetz engaged in the alleged violations 
while serving as a Member of this body, such conduct would affect the 
rights of the House of Representatives and the integrity of the 
legislative process:
  Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Committee on Ethics shall--
  (1) preserve all documents and investigative materials related to any 
review of Matthew Louis Gaetz II's conduct while serving as a Member of 
the House of Representatives; and

[[Page H6139]]

  (2) make public the Committee's report regarding the alleged 
violations of the House Code of Official Conduct or of a law, rule, 
regulation, or other standard of conduct by Matthew Louis Gaetz II 
while serving as a Member of the House of Representatives.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the 
floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader 
as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence 
only at a time designated by the Chair within 2 legislative days after 
the resolution is properly noticed.
  Pending that designation, the form of the resolution noticed by the 
gentleman from Tennessee will appear in the Record at this point.
  The Chair will not at this point determine whether the resolution 
constitutes a question of privilege. That determination will be made at 
the time designated for consideration of the resolution.

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