The US House of Representatives on Thursday rejected Democratic efforts to release a long-awaited ethics report investigating sexual misconduct allegations against former Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz.

The House rejected two privileged resolutions, voting against the Democrats’ arguments for the report to be released to ensure transparency and accountability. The House voted 206-198 against H.Res.1608, which had been introduced by Representative Sean Casten of Illinois to direct the House Ethics Committee to release the committee’s report on Gaetz to the public. The House also voted 204-198 against H.Res.1609, which Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee introduced to direct the committee to preserve and release the records of the committee’s review of Gaetz’s conduct. The Ethics Committee, which has equal representation from both parties, released a brief statement Thursday saying the matter remains under discussion.

The House Ethics Committee opened their investigation into Gaetz in April 2021. The investigation stemmed from allegations of sexual misconduct and involvement in sex trafficking, including accusations that he paid for sex with women and an underage girl. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations and pointed out that a separate US Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation concluded without federal charges against him.

Last month, Gaetz resigned from Congress and withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general after president-elect Donald trump nominated him for the position a week earlier. The nomination sparked significant public scrutiny, and the Ethics Committee has since operated under mounting pressure to address the allegations against Gaetz. Mere hours after Gaetz withdrew his nomination to head the DOJ, Trump instead nominated formed Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the post.

The blocked efforts to release the report come amid broader concerns about the ethical conduct of elected officials and the processes for addressing misconduct allegations. Gaetz’s departure raised questions about whether Congress should continue to investigate and publicly report findings about former members, a practice rarely undertaken. The outcome of these efforts could set a precedent for how future ethics investigations involving former lawmakers are handled.