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.
