Gaetz Files Restraining Order Against Ethics Committee To Block Report Release

Former Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz has filed a lawsuit against the House Ethics Committee, seeking a temporary restraining order to block the public release of a report stemming from an investigation into alleged sexual and drug misconduct.

Gaetz, who recently stepped down from Congress after being appointed Attorney General by President-elect Donald Trump, saw the release of the private ethics report postponed when he left office. The investigation, however, resumed, and the committee secretly voted last week to make the findings public.

Gaetz has consistently denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

CNN’s Scott MacFarlane reported that Gaetz argued a restraining order was necessary to prevent the report’s release because “media coverage would be immediate and widespread.”

According to CBS, which reviewed a “final draft” of the committee’s report, the findings allege that Gaetz “paid numerous women — including a 17-year-old girl — for sex” and “purchased and used illegal drugs, including from his Capitol Hill office.”

Amid the controversy, Gaetz is preparing to launch his own program on the One America News Network (OAN).

Ginger Gaetz, his wife, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the show would debut in January. In a cryptic post on Sunday, she teased “big news” and shared a photo of her husband. OAN’s website confirms that The Matt Gaetz Show is “coming soon.”

This development follows Gaetz’s decision to resign from Congress and later withdraw from consideration as President-elect Trump’s pick for Attorney General, as reported by Newsweek.

The former congressman described calls for the House Ethics Committee to release its report as an “unfair distraction” that led to his decision to step back from the nomination. He continues to deny all accusations investigated by the panel, including claims of drug use and a relationship with a 17-year-old while in office.

Since withdrawing his name from DOJ consideration, Gaetz’s next career move has been a subject of speculation. During a November 22 interview with Charlie Kirk, he stated that he had no plans to seek re-election to Congress in the coming year.

There is ongoing speculation about Gaetz potentially running for governor of Florida after Ron DeSantis’s term concludes in 2026. He has also been floated as a potential successor to Florida Senator Marco Rubio should Rubio be tapped as Trump’s Secretary of State.

Gaetz hinted at his future plans in a Cameo video shared on social media last week.

Newsmax host Bianca de la Garza discussed Gaetz’s prospects with Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union. During their conversation, they touched on his withdrawal from the Attorney General race and speculated about his next steps.

“Matt Gaetz withdrew his name, Pam Bondi was selected. But Gaetz is having a little bit of fun on Cameo posting some videos here. I’ll play a little clip of this just in time for the holiday season. I guess it’s the holiday greeting we didn’t know we needed,” de la Garza remarked before introducing the clip.

In the video, Gaetz addressed FBI Director Christopher Wray directly, saying: “What’s up, Chris? This is Matt Gaetz. I know you’re bummed out I’m not going to be taking out the garbage at the Department of Justice, but don’t despair. We’ve got an awesome attorney general coming in, Pam Bondi, and you know what? They can stop one of us, but they can’t stop all of us.”