IV
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1609
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 5, 2024
Mr. Cohen submitted the following resolution;
December 5, 2024
By motion of the House, referred to the Committee on Ethics
RESOLUTION
Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and release records of the Committee’s review of the alleged misconduct of Matthew Louis Gaetz II of Florida while serving as a Member 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, 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 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, 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
; and
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
That the Committee on Ethics shall—
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;
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
in accordance with the Committee’s practice for releasing public documents, anonymize witness identities and redact any personally identifiable information of minors and victims from any House documents associated with this matter before publicly releasing them.