Mike Johnson says he doesn't think the House Ethics Committee should release the Gaetz report

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(WASHINGTON) – House Speaker Mike Johnson said Friday he believes the House Ethics Committee should not release the findings of its investigation into Matt Gaetz now that the Florida Republican is no longer a member of Congress.

“I believe it is very important to maintain the House of Representatives’ tradition of not issuing ethics reports on people who are no longer members of Congress,” Johnson said. “I think it would open a Pandora’s box.”

It is extremely rare for Johnson to address the issue, as House speakers traditionally stay out of committee investigations and business.

Just two days ago, Johnson said the following about the report: “As far as the timing of a report being published or anything like that, I don’t know. The President of the House is not involved in that, cannot be involved in that.”

The House Ethics Committee was in the final stages of investigating Gaetz alleged sexual misconduct and illegal drug usesources confirmed to ABC News before his firing.

It is unclear what the bipartisan panel will do next with its report. There are growing calls from senators on both sides of the aisle to release the report.

The House Ethics Committee, which sources said was preparing to meet this week to deliberate on whether to release a final report, would now not meet on Friday, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives shortly after being appointed attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump – a choice that shocked some Republican lawmakers And many officials from the Ministry of Justice. Gaetz will need to be confirmed by the Senate to fill this role.

When asked Friday whether he had spoken to Trump about the ethics investigation, Johnson deflected.

“I’m not talking to anyone about what I said to Trump,” he said.

Johnson also claimed he was responding to public reports about the panel’s findings and was not informed of the investigation.

“The speaker has no involvement or understanding of what is going on with the Ethics Commission or what they are investigating or when,” Johnson added.

“What I’m saying is someone who is no longer a member of Congress. It is not your job to investigate and publish a report,” he concluded. “I would encourage the House Ethics Committee to follow that tradition. I think it’s important.”