### Gaetz Faces Tough Senate Confirmation Amid Ethics Probe Concerns

The path to Senate confirmation for Matt Gaetz, nominated by President-elect Trump to be the next attorney general, appears fraught with challenges as Republican senators demand access to a House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz’s conduct. This investigation delved into allegations of sex trafficking and drug use against Gaetz, which were being examined since 2021.

Gaetz tendered his resignation from the House on Thursday, coinciding with Trump’s announcement of his attorney general nomination. Democratic Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, who currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged the House Ethics Committee to retain and share their report along with related information on Gaetz.

Adding to the scrutiny, Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn, though recently defeated in his bid for Senate Majority Leader, emphasized the necessity for the Senate to access all pertinent information, even suggesting a possible subpoena for the ethics report if required. Cornyn acknowledged the ambiguity around whether the Senate holds the authority to request records from the House but stressed the importance of transparency for the confirmation process.

A meeting involving the House Ethics Committee was initially slated for Friday, although it remains uncertain if it will go ahead. Sources familiar with the situation hinted that the committee might have been planning to vote on the release of its findings on Gaetz during that session.

Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville noted that Gaetz’s nomination would undergo meticulous scrutiny, indicating that the thorough examination was anticipated. Despite expressing personal support for Gaetz, Tuberville acknowledged the rigorous confirmation process ahead.

Other Republican senators chose not to comment directly on Gaetz. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas simply refrained from any remarks, while Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, when asked about Gaetz, preferred to commend another Trump nominee, Rep. Elise Stefanik, suggesting that Gaetz faces significant hurdles for his confirmation.

As Gaetz prepares for his nomination hearings, the call for transparency and access to the House Ethics Committee's findings underscores the intense scrutiny that lies ahead.