Trump AG pick Matt Gaetz under scrutiny as House Ethics report on sex, drug claims takes focus

Multiple Republican senators gave a chilly reception to President-elect Donald Trump's selection of Matt Gaetz for U.S. attorney general, putting the former Florida congressman's odds of being confirmed by the Senate in question.

The surprise announcement Wednesday, and Gaetz's swift resignation from Congress, also drew attention to a House Ethics Committee probe into allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and other wrongdoing.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican on the judiciary panel that will decide whether to advance Gaetz's nomination to the full Senate, said Thursday morning that he "absolutely" wants to see the Ethics report.

"I think there should not be any limitation on the Senate Judiciary committee's investigation, including whatever the House Ethics Committee is generated," Cornyn told reporters on Capitol Hill.

He added that while "it's premature to count votes," there are "a lot of questions."

Gaetz had previously been embroiled in a federal investigation into whether he was involved in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. That probe, which ended last year without charges being filed, was conducted by the Department of Justice — the agency Gaetz would lead if he were confirmed as attorney general.

Gaetz has denied all of the allegations against him. In September, he declared he would stop cooperating with the House panel, while sharing a letter in which he vehemently denied having "sexual activity with any individual under 18."

On Thursday, an attorney for the woman who alleges she had a sexual relationship with Gaetz when she was a minor, said the Ethics panel should release the report.

"Mr. Gaetz's likely nomination as Attorney General is a perverse development in a truly