[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 178 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6210]
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. Mr. 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 investigate allegations 
that Representative Matt 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 for personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or 
impermissible gift in violation of the rules of the House, laws, or 
other standards of conduct;
  Whereas, over 3 years, the Committee on Ethics of the House of 
Representatives compiled an extensive investigative record pursuant to 
Committee Rules 14(a)(3) and 18(a) into 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, 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 continue investigating and release reports of 
investigations into former Members of the House of Representatives;
  Whereas, in 1987, the Committee on Ethics of the House of 
Representatives released a report on its investigation into allegations 
of the misuse of campaign funds, improper gifts, the failure to reveal 
business interests on his financial disclosure, and the acceptance of a 
bribe by former Representative Bill Boner following his resignation 
from Congress;
  Whereas, in 1990, the Committee on Ethics of the House of 
Representatives released a report on its investigations of sexual 
misconduct allegations, which included having sexual intercourse with a 
minor and making sexual advances toward a congressional employee, 
against former Representative Don Lukens following his resignation from 
Congress;
  Whereas, in 2006, the Committee on Ethics of the House of 
Representatives released a report on its investigation into sexual 
misconduct allegations, which included sending sexually explicit images 
to at least one minor, against former Representative Mark Foley 
following his resignation from Congress;
  Whereas, in 2011, the Committee on Ethics of the House of 
Representatives continued its investigation into allegations of sexual 
misconduct against former Representative Eric Massa following his 
resignation; and
  Whereas, given the serious nature of the allegations against 
Representative Gaetz, a failure of the Committee on Ethics of the House 
of Representatives to publicly release its report on its investigation 
undermines the committee's credibility and impedes the safety, 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 the latest draft of its 
report and a summary of its findings to the public, including any 
conclusions, draft reports, recommendations, attachments, exhibits and 
accompanying materials, with such redactions as may be necessary and 
appropriate to protect sensitive information, including witness 
identities, relating to its investigation into allegations against 
former Representative Matt Gaetz.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Van Duyne). 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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