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The House Ethics Committee secretly voted earlier this month to release its report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s conduct before the end of this Congress, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The report is now expected to be released after the House’s final day of voting this year as lawmakers leave Washington for the holidays, these sources said.

The vote, which has not been previously reported, marks a stark reversal for the panel after it voted across party lines in late November not to release the investigation’s findings. The decision to release the report suggests that some Republicans have ultimately decided to side with Democrats on the issue, and it is unclear whether the committee will change course again after the vote.

When the committee voted to shelve the report last month, Gaetz was President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general. Gaetz has since withdrawn from running for the Senate-confirmed post, although he maintains frosty relations with many in his party and is still active in GOP politics.

It is extremely rare for an ethics report to be released after a member leaves Congress, although it has happened a few times in the past. The committee revisited the issue behind closed doors earlier this month after a feud over the report went public before Thanksgiving.

The Ethics Committee’s report concludes a year-long investigation into numerous allegations against Gaetz, including whether he committed sexual misconduct, used illegal drugs, “shared inappropriate images or videos in the House of Representatives, misused government identification documents, and converted campaign funds for personal use.” , and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or improper gift,” the panel said in an announcement last summer.

Gaetz has vigorously denied all allegations and described the investigation as a witch hunt.

In a post on And he said he has “NEVER had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18” – an allegation addressed in the House ethics report, as CNN previously reported.

“My 30s were a time when I worked very hard – and played hard too. It’s embarrassing, although not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.”

The lawyer describes the client’s testimony in the House Ethics Committee’s investigation into Gaetz

Spokesman Mike Johnson said he did not believe the report should be released because Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress after he abruptly resigned after Trump announced him as his first attorney general. Johnson has acknowledged that he has no influence on the work of the body, which traditionally operates separately from leadership. Many lawmakers believed Gaetz resigned to bury the investigation.

Gaetz, who was re-elected last month before resigning, said he has no plans to return to Congress next year.

“I will still take part in the fight, but it will be from a new perspective. I have no plans to join the 119th Congress,” he said in an interview with Charlie Kirk last month.

“I will fight for President Trump. I will do whatever he asks of me, as I always have. But I think eight years in the US Congress is probably enough time,” he said.

He also recently announced that he will be joining One America News Network in January.

A spokesman for the committee did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

This story has been updated with additional reactions.