'Footnote in history': CNN Republican writes Matt Gaetz's political epitaph

A CNN conservative commentator wrote off Matt Gaetz's political future as the House Ethics Committee prepares to release a report on its investigation into shocking allegations against the former lawmaker.

The panel voted in secret earlier this month to reverse its previous decision on the report, which will reveal findings from a congressional investigation into allegations that Gaetz paid for sex with teenage girls, used illicit drugs and shared lewd images with colleagues on the House floor, and Republican strategist Brad Todd told "CNN This Morning" that this would be a nail in the coffin of his political career.

"In a town full of reptiles, Matt Gaetz is the least popular snake," Todd said. "The lesson in all of this is Matt Gaetz made no friends. He helped nobody with their objectives in the U.S. House, and so, therefore, no one's ready to stand up for him right now. He also bragged about his exploits, according to [Sen.] Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and others, so it's no surprise, I think, that these members of the Ethics Committee, they don't want to be on the hook for this. They want the world to know what they know, because they don't want to be accused of covering up for him."

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The Florida Republican resigned from the congressional seat to which he'd just won re-election after Donald Trump nominated him as attorney general, but Gaetz announced he would not return to Congress after GOP senators made clear he would not have enough votes to be confirmed.

"Something else happened, though," Todd said. "Ballots dropped in the first district of Florida yesterday, absentee ballots did in the special election to replace Matt Gaetz. He's about to be a footnote in history. This may be the last story we write about him."

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