Political Quotes

“Last week the Speaker of the House and the majority leader said that the report into serious allegations of misconduct by former Representative Matt Gaetz was ``moot'' because he had resigned from Congress. I rise today to remind my colleagues of four names and 4 years: 1987, Bill Boner; 1990, Don Lukens; 2006, Mark Foley; 2011, Eric Massa. Those are four Members of Congress, spanning each of the last four decades: two Democrats, two Republicans. All four of them resigned from their seats while under investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Allegations against these Members included acceptance of bribes; sharing inappropriate, sexually explicit images; and sex with a minor child. In all of those cases, the work of the Ethics Committee continued even after their resignation. In three of the four cases, the report of the Ethics Committee was released to the public. In none of those cases did anyone have the gall to declare those reports to be moot. Now, in 2024, another Representative has resigned while he was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations, including acceptance of bribes; sharing of inappropriate, sexually explicit images; and sex with a minor child. Mr. Gaetz is also alleged to have engaged in illicit drug use. We all understand that even the allegation of such activities being committed by one of us cheapens this whole institution. We also all respect the traditions of this House.…”