Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) has admitted to leaking confidential details from an ethics report about former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). The report, which remained incomplete, became a point of contention during Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, ultimately contributing to his withdrawal.
The House Ethics Committee was evenly divided on whether to release findings from the investigation, preventing them from being made public. However, leaked details were quickly reported by the media, sparking outrage and accusations of political interference.
Wild did not attend a recent committee meeting after her role in the leaks was discovered. While her office claimed she was absent due to dissatisfaction with how the case was managed, sources suggest she was confronted over her actions. During her absence, Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) acted as ranking member.
Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general faced significant opposition in the Senate, with some Republicans unwilling to support him. The ethics probe ended when Gaetz left Congress, but the leaked details provided ammunition for his critics.
Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS), chair of the Ethics Committee, confirmed the panel is continuing its work but did not comment on Wild’s future participation. Wild is set to leave Congress at the end of the year after losing her re-election bid.
The incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the Ethics Committee. Critics argue the use of confidential information for political advantage undermines trust in the panel’s ability to carry out fair and impartial investigations.
