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Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to prevent the release of a U.S. House Ethics Committee report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use during his time in office. Gaetz, who resigned from Congress in November, argues the committee lacks jurisdiction over him as a private citizen.

Gaetz Alleges Jurisdictional Overreach

In his complaint, Gaetz contends the committee’s plan to release the report violates his constitutional rights and due process. He asserts the committee previously acknowledged it lacks authority over former members of Congress, describing the move as an "unprecedented overreach."

“The release represents an unprecedented overreach that threatens fundamental constitutional rights and established procedural protections,” the lawsuit states.

Allegations in the Report

According to a leaked draft obtained by CNN, the ethics committee’s investigation uncovered evidence that Gaetz paid women for sex, including a 17-year-old girl in 2017, and engaged in drug use involving substances like cocaine and ecstasy between 2017 and 2019.

Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations and was not criminally charged following a U.S. Department of Justice investigation. However, he claims the report contains defamatory information that, if made public, would irreparably harm his reputation.

“Once released, the damage to plaintiff's reputation and professional standing would be immediate, severe and irreversible,” Gaetz said in the filing.

Dispute Over Report’s Release

The ethics committee voted last week to make the report public, despite Gaetz’s objections. He claims he was not given advance notice of the committee’s decision and only learned of the potential release through media reports.

Gaetz served in Congress from 2017 until Nov. 13, when he stepped down following former President Donald Trump’s announcement nominating him as U.S. attorney general. Gaetz later withdrew his name, citing the controversy surrounding his nomination as a distraction to Trump’s transition efforts.

Legal Representation

Gaetz is represented by Jonathan Gross of the Law Office of Jonathan Gross. Counsel for the ethics committee has not been identified.