House Ethics Committee cancels meeting on Matt Gaetz probe

• The committee had been looking into allegations of sex trafficking, illicit drug use and accepting improper gifts, all of which Gaetz has denied.

What we're hearing: Republican members of the committee — which is split 50-50 between the two parties — met Thursday night, both sources confirmed to Axios.

• The panel had been set to vote on the release of what lawmakers expect will be a highly damaging report before Gaetz stepped down from his seat.
• Republicans on the panel and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have signaled their opposition to releasing the report now that Gaetz is a former member and thus no longer under the committee's jurisdiction.
• The meeting's cancellation was first reported by CNN.

The other side: Democrats on the panel have been looking into whether they can formally make the report public, Axios previously reported.

• Senators in both parties have said they want to see the report as they consider Gaetz's nomination for attorney general.
• And some lawmakers have speculated that the report may leak through unofficial channels.

Go deeper: Trump's middle finger: Gaetz for attorney general