[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 178 (Tuesday, December 3, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H6282]
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. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise 
to give notice of my intention to raise a question of privileges of the 
House.
  The form of the resolution is as follows:
  Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and release the records 
of the Committee's review of the alleged misconduct of Matthew Louis 
Gaetz II of Florida while serving as a Member of this honorable body of 
the House of Representatives.
  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 rules of the House of 
Representatives provides the Committee on Ethics the authority to 
investigate alleged violations by a Member, Delegate, or a Resident 
Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House of the Code of Official 
Conduct or rule of law rule or 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 responsibilities of such individual;
  Whereas, on April 9, 2021, the Committee on Ethics initiated a 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, 
improperly gratuity, or impermissible gift in violation of the House 
rules, laws, or other standards of conduct'' in violation of the 
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 the House, 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;
  (2) publicly release the committee's report, including any associated 
findings, recommendations, and proposed disciplinary actions, as 
discussed by the committee on November 20, 2024, regarding the alleged 
violations of the Code of Official Conduct of the House 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; and
  (3) in accordance with the committee's practice for releasing public 
documents, they should hide witnesses' identities and redact any 
personally identifiable information of minors and victims from any 
House documents associated with this matter before publicly releasing 
them.
  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.

                          ____________________