The House Ethics Committee is set to convene Thursday, facing a deadline to decide the fate of its report concerning allegations against former Rep. Matt Gaetz. The committee previously failed to reach a consensus on releasing the report last month.

Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) initiated a "privileged resolution" on Tuesday, aiming to compel a full House vote on the report's public release. This procedural maneuver mandates House leadership to address the resolution within two legislative days, setting the deadline for Thursday.

The Ethics Committee's multi-year investigation delved into accusations against Gaetz involving sexual misconduct with a minor and illicit drug use. Gaetz has consistently denied these allegations, and a parallel federal investigation concluded without charges.

Gaetz resigned from Congress shortly after being nominated for Attorney General by then President-elect Trump, a nomination he subsequently withdrew amid Republican opposition. His resignation complicated the Ethics Committee's investigation, as it lost jurisdiction upon his departure from the House.

The committee's prior meeting to discuss the report's release ended in disagreement. Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) indicated a lack of consensus, sparking a rebuke from Ranking Member Susan Wild (D-PA), who criticized Guest for publicly commenting on the confidential deliberations.

With Gaetz no longer under consideration for Attorney General, the pressure on Republicans to release the report may have diminished. Several GOP members had previously suggested that public disclosure would be necessary if Gaetz were to lead the Department of Justice.

The Thursday deadline looms as a pivotal moment for the House Ethics Committee and its handling of the Gaetz report.