[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 172 (Wednesday, November 20, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6141]
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. CASTEN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I
rise to give notice of my intent to raise a question of the privileges
of the House.
The form of the resolution is as follows:
House Resolution, directing the Committee on Ethics of the House of
Representatives to release to the public the Committee's report on its
investigation into allegations against former Representative Matt
Gaetz.
Whereas, on April 9, 2021, the Committee on Ethics of the House of
Representatives announced that it had begun to review allegations that
Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and
illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House
floor, misused State identification records, converted campaign funds
for personal use, and accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or
impermissible gift in violation of the rules of the House, laws, or
other standards of conduct;
Whereas, the Committee on Ethics of the House of Representatives has
completed its review into allegations pursuant to Committee Rules
14(a)(3) and 18(a) 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, on November 13, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced
his nomination of former Representative Matt Gaetz to serve as Attorney
General;
Whereas, on November 13, 2024, Representative Matt Gaetz announced
his resignation from Congress;
Whereas, there is precedent for the Committee on Ethics of the House
of Representatives to release reports on former Members of the House of
Representatives, should information in those reports remain relevant to
the function of Congress;
Whereas, the decision by the Committee on Ethics of the House of
Representatives not to release its report on its investigation into the
serious allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz impedes
the ability of the Senate to provide advice and consent on this
nomination; and
Whereas, a failure of the Committee on Ethics of the House of
Representatives to release its report on its investigation impedes the
dignity and integrity of the legislative proceedings of the House: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Committee on Ethics of the House of
Representatives shall immediately release to the public the committee's
report on its investigation into allegations against former
Representative Matt Gaetz, including any conclusions, recommendations,
attachments, exhibits, or accompanying material.
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 Illinois 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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