Notice of Intention to Offer Resolution Raising A Question of the Privileges of the House

Floor Speech

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Mr. COHEN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule IX, I rise to give notice of my intention to raise a question of the privileges of the House.

The form of the resolution as is follows:

Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and publicly release records of the Committee's review of the alleged violations of the House Code of Conduct and Federal law by Representative Matthew Louis Gaetz II of Florida.

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 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 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;

Whereas, if Representative Gaetz engaged in the alleged violations while serving as a Member of this body, such conduct would affect the rights of the House of Representatives and the integrity of the legislative process:

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Committee on Ethics shall--

(1) 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; and

(2) make public the Committee's report regarding the alleged violations of the House Code of Official Conduct 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.

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