US House speaker urges Ethics not to release report on Matt Gaetz

WASHINGTON

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday urged the House Ethics Committee not to release its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz.

"I'm going to strongly request that the Ethics Committee not issue the report, because that is not the way we do things in the House," Johnson said, according to the media reports.

"And I think that would be a terrible precedent to set," he added.

Florida Republican Gaetz resigned on Wednesday right after President-elect Donald Trump named him as attorney general.

Johnson said he plans to talk to House Ethics Chair Michael Guest about the matter, but does not know the timing yet.

"The rules of the House have always been that a former member is beyond the jurisdiction of the Ethics Committee," he said, when asked if the public has a right to see the report. "And so I don't think that's relevant."

Gaetz has been under investigation by the Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use, and accepting improper gifts.

The committee was expected to meet on Friday, but according to media reports, the meeting was canceled amid growing pressure to release the report on Gaetz.