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

Floor Speech

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

The form of the resolution is as follows:

Directing the Committee on Ethics to preserve and release the records of the Committee's review of the alleged misconduct of Matthew Louis Gaetz II of Florida while serving as a Member of this honorable body of the House of Representatives.

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 rules of the House of Representatives provides the Committee on Ethics the authority to investigate alleged violations by a Member, Delegate, or a Resident Commissioner, officer, or employee of the House of the Code of Official Conduct or rule of law rule or 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 responsibilities of such individual;

Whereas, on April 9, 2021, the Committee on Ethics initiated a 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, improperly gratuity, or impermissible gift in violation of the House rules, laws, or other standards of conduct'' in violation of the 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 the House, 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;

(2) publicly release the committee's report, including any associated findings, recommendations, and proposed disciplinary actions, as discussed by the committee on November 20, 2024, regarding the alleged violations of the Code of Official Conduct of the House 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; and

(3) in accordance with the committee's practice for releasing public documents, they should hide witnesses' identities and redact any personally identifiable information of minors and victims from any House documents associated with this matter before publicly releasing them.

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