House Republicans moved swiftly on Thursday to block the public release of a potentially damaging report from the House Committee on Ethics regarding former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The report, which contained allegations of sexual misconduct and drug abuse, had previously hindered Gaetz’s ambitions, including his bid to become President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general. By preventing its disclosure, Republicans effectively buried the controversy, ensuring that its details would not be scrutinized by the public or the media.

The House voted twice along near party lines, with results of 206-198 and 204-198, both times sending the report back to the Ethics Committee instead of making it public. The move underscored the GOP’s determination to shield one of its own from further political fallout, despite the serious nature of the allegations. Only one Republican, Rep. Tom McClintock of California, broke party ranks and joined Democrats in supporting the report’s release. His defection highlighted the deep partisan divide over whether transparency or party loyalty should take precedence.

The allegations against Gaetz had already played a significant role in shaping his political trajectory, casting a shadow over his career and thwarting higher ambitions. While he remained a staunch ally of Trump and a vocal figure within the Republican Party, the lingering accusations had prevented him from securing key positions. The Ethics Committee’s report could have reignited public scrutiny and legal questions, making its suppression a strategic move for House Republicans seeking to avoid another high-profile scandal.