The House Ethics Committee produced a report on its investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz that has yet to be publicized because he immediately resigned from his role in Congress after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to serve as U.S. attorney general.
While politics may influence whether the House Ethics Committee releases information on its findings about Matt Gaetz, all reports from the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) are publicized because this entity is independent of partisan influence as a nonpartisan watchdog.
In a new op-ed for The Hill, CLC’s Kedric Payne — vice president, general counsel, and senior director, ethics — shares that this is not the first time a member of Congress has resigned to try and avoid having a similar report from going public, and that the House Ethics Committee should be transparent with the public.
“For many Americans, a decision to keep this report private confirms their cynical perception of our lawmakers: operating in secrecy, beholden to their own personal interest, and answering only to those with enough political power to gain their ear. Earning public trust requires showcasing that our institutions work, no matter who is in charge.”