Rep. Susan Wild (Pa.), the top Democrat on the House Ethics Committee, was absent from the panel’s meeting last week after being traced as the source of leaks to the press regarding the investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), sources told The Hill.
It remains unclear if Wild voluntarily skipped the Thursday gathering or was asked not to attend, what information she leaked and to whom, and how the panel tracked her back as being the leaker. Two sources said Wild ultimately acknowledged to the panel that she had leaked information.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) served as acting ranking member during Thursday’s meeting, according to a source, who noted that any time a member of the panel is absent, there is an acting ranking member in their place.
It also remains unclear if the Pennsylvania Democrat, who is leaving Congress at the end of the year, will be present at Ethics Committee meetings in the future. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), the chairman of the panel, told reporters that Thursday’s meeting was not the last for the group.
In a statement to The Hill, Wild’s chief of staff, Jed Ober, said the congresswoman skipped last week’s meeting because she was “frustrated” with how the Gaetz report had been handled, and said characterizing her absence as anything more was “inaccurate.”
“Rep. Wild was frustrated by the manner in which the report was handled and didn’t feel it was fruitful to participate in any further meetings on its ‘potential’ release. Characterizing it as anything more is inaccurate. There will be no further statement,” Ober said.
Wild’s office declined to comment when asked if the congresswoman would attend future Ethics Committee meetings pertaining to the Gaetz report. A spokesperson for the Ethics Committee declined to comment.
Wild was noticeably missing from last week’s Ethics Committee gathering, being the only member of the panel who did not enter then exit the committee room, which was swarmed with reporters. Punchbowl News later reported that she would not attend.
The panel met to discuss its investigation into Gaetz, which has become the subject of controversy after the Florida Republican was nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as his attorney general, resigned from the House, withdrew his name from consideration for the Cabinet, and then said he would not take the oath of office in the next Congress. Whether or not to release the report has become a heated debate on Capitol Hill.
The group broke from its Thursday meeting without publishing the report. In a statement afterwards, the panel said it is “continuing to discuss the matter.”
The Ethics Committee — which is known for conducting business in secrecy — had been investigating Gaetz for roughly three-and-a-half years, probing allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use. The investigation, however, came to an abrupt end after Gaetz resigned from the House, since the panel does not have jurisdiction over former members of Congress.
Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.
Various pieces of information about the years-long probe into Gaetz have leaked in recent months, including logistics about meetings, votes taken during those gatherings, and the panel’s plan to vote on releasing the report days after he announced his resignation.
Any leaks from members and staff are a violation of the committee’s rules: Individuals on the panel take an oath swearing they will not disclose unauthorized information.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will not disclose, to any person or entity outside the Committee on Ethics, any information received in the course of my service with the Committee, except as authorized by the Committee or in accordance with its rules,” the oath reads, according to the panel’s rules.
Wild — who has been the top Democrat on the Ethics Committee since 2022 — is not returning to Congress next year after losing her re-election bid to Republican Ryan Mackenzie.
The congresswoman’s frustration with the committee was apparent following a meeting regarding the Gaetz report last month. Guest exited the huddle saying “there is not agreement by the committee to release the report,” which Wild later characterized in remarks to the press as “inaccurate.”
She accused Guest of having “betrayed the process by disclosing our deliberations within moments after walking out of the committee,” which was her reason for commenting to the press.
