WASHINGTON -- The House shut down Democrats' efforts Thursday to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz, pushing the fate of any resolution to the yearslong investigation of sexual misconduct allegations into further uncertainty.
The nearly party-line votes came after Democrats had been pressing for the findings to be published even though the Florida Republican left Congress and withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., was the sole Republican to support the effort.
Most Republicans have argued that any congressional probe into Gaetz ended when he resigned from the House. Speaker Mike Johnson also requested that the committee not publish its report, saying it would be a terrible precedent to set.
While ethics reports have previously been released after a member's resignation, it is extremely rare.
"If Republicans reject the release, they will have succeeded in sweeping credible allegations of sexual misconduct under the rug," said Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., who introduced one of the bills to force the release. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the claims.
Earlier Thursday, the Ethics panel met to discuss the Gaetz report but made no decision, saying in a short statement that the matter is still being discussed. It's unclear now whether the document will ever see light as lawmakers have only a few weeks left before a new session of Congress begins.
It's culmination of weeks of pressure on Ethics committee's five Republicans and five Democrats who mostly work in secret as they investigate allegations against lawmakers.
The status of Gaetz investigation became an open question last month when he abruptly resigned from Congress after Trump's announcement that he wanted his ally in Cabinet. It is standard practice for committee to end investigations when members depart, but circumstances around Gaetz were unusual given his potential role in new administration.
"I've been steadfast about that. He's no longer a member. He is no longer going to be confirmed by Senate because he withdrew nomination," said Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss., committee chairman.
The Gaetz report has also caused tensions between lawmakers on bipartisan committee. Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild publicly admonished Guest last month for mischaracterizing previous meeting to press.
"Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and said last year Justice Department's separate investigation against him ended without federal charges."