Upon Gaetz’s resignation from the House, the House Ethics Committee dropped its investigation — just days away from releasing its report.

The committee is meeting Wednesday afternoon and will discuss the next steps for the report, but it is not certain if the committee will vote on whether to release it.

This comes as the Trump transition team flouts the traditional vetting process for his appointment nominations, raising concerns by both Democratic and Republican senators responsible for confirming Trump’s nominations.

While Democratic senators stand united in their calls for the Ethics Committee to release its report on Gaetz, top Republican leadership is at the crossroads of seeking transparency and due diligence and a speedy confirmation process. Trump has personally called senators to vote to appoint Gaetz.

The House Ethics investigation includes the testimony of more than a dozen witnesses and details from thousands of pages of documents.

Senators not pushing for the report’s release

Sen. John Thune (R-SD), the incoming Senate majority leader, has been mum on the release of the investigation documents. He has called the investigation a “House issue,” deferring to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who “strongly” requests that the report not be released.

Like Thune, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) doesn’t want to address the Gaetz report.

“I’m going to honor Speaker Johnson’s position,” Tillis said. “I think it’s a reasonable position.”

But Trump-backer Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has been on the offensive for Gaetz, pointing out that an investigation by the Justice Department did not bring about charges against him.

“I would urge all of my Senate colleagues, particularly Republicans, not to join the lynch mob and give the process a chance to move forward,” Graham said. “After years of being investigated by the Department of Justice, no charges were brought against Matt Gaetz. This is something we should all remember.”

Senators pushing for the report’s release

But on the other side, some Republicans said ignoring the report would be a gross negligence of the Senate.

“I think that if they want a speedy consideration of this nomination, we’ve got to have as much transparency as we can have,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who will serve as the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman next year. “Because you’ve heard my colleagues, especially on the Republican side, say that they have some questions.”

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) said looking into the report is outlined in the Constitution under the “advice and consent” role.

“I think the report from the House plays a pivotal role in that,” Mullin said.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who was a contender for the Senate majority leader position, said he would “absolutely” want to see the findings of the ethics report.

Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) said ignoring the report would be wrong.

“There’s nothing about that that would smell right to say, ‘Hey, there’s a report, but none of us want to see it,’” Lankford said.

Senators who won’t say either way

Meanwhile, some top Republicans, with strong loyalties to Trump, have been more vague on the ethics report.

Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Mike Lee (R-UT) were in a meeting with Gaetz and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance Wednesday morning.

Hawley said Gaetz should have an opportunity “to answer this in a forum that is reasonable.”

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) didn’t declare if he thinks the report should be released but committed to not voting for Gaetz if any of the sexual assault allegations were proven.

Tuberville said he asked Gaetz if he was guilty of the allegations, to which the Florida Republican said no, and Tuberville said, “Good. Because if it comes out they can prove something, I’m not going to vote for you.”

Republican senators opposed to Gaetz

There are some Republicans who are skeptical of Gaetz regardless of if the ethics report is published.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) didn’t vote for Trump and said Gaetz was not a “serious nomination.”

“I don’t think it’s a serious nomination for attorney general,” Murkowski said. “We need to have a serious attorney general.”

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said she was “shocked” by Gaetz’s nomination.

“I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing,” Collins said. “Obviously, the president has the right to nominate whomever he wishes, but I’m certain that there will be a lot of questions.”

And Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who is retiring as the Republican leader, is a wild card as well.

McConnell hasn’t announced whether he will seek reelection in 2027, and if he doesn’t plan to run and is no longer leader, he will be free to vote against Trump, with whom he has had a tumultuous relationship.

“Each of these nominees needs to come before the Senate and go through the process and be vetted,” McConnell said last Wednesday at an event.

“Mitch has always been able to carve his own way,” Mullin said. “I don’t know which direction he’ll go, but he’ll be working with the conference.”

Republicans will hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and it would only take four senators to deny Gaetz’s appointment, meaning he will be rejected if Murkowski, Collins, McConnell, and one other Republican member vote against his nomination. It has been reported that up to 30 Republicans don’t agree with his nomination.