Hi, everyone. It's 4 o'clock in New York. Breaking this hour, the House Ethics Committee has ended its meeting to discuss its report on allegations of sex trafficking and drug use by Donald Trump's pick for Attorney General.

Firebrand Matt Gates, a figure who commands bipartisan hatred among some of his colleagues,

but is liked by the one person who calls all of the shots in the Republican Party, Donald

Trump.

The chair of the Ethics Committee tells reporters that there has been no agreement

reached to release the report. Hours before the meeting, Vice President-elect J.D. Vans today

joined Matt Gates on Capitol Hill to lobby on behalf of Matt Gates. Another sign that Team Trump is

all in in terms of getting Matt Gates confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Never mind the allegations of sex trafficking or drug use or his, quote, long history of trafficking in anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

That is according to the Anti-Defamation League, or even the lack of legal experience. The action

on Capitol Hill happening in the backdrop of a steady drip of revelations from that congressional

investigation, even as the Ethics Committee debates what to do with their actual report. Multiple

sources familiar with the Ethics Committee's work telling NBC News this, quote,

one woman told the committee that a payment from Gates was for sex. While others have said,

they were paid to attend parties that Gates also attended and that featured drugs and sex.

We should note Matt Gates has denied any wrongdoing in both the congressional

investigation and the federal probe. The federal probe was closed with no charges ultimately

being brought. Now, whatever happens with the Ethics Committee's findings, it's sure to

underscore the fact that a Justice Department headed by Mack Gates would take the country into uncharted waters.

When news broke that Gates was being nominated, one DOJ official told NBC News this, quote,

look, he is uniquely qualified.

How many other prospective attorneys general had previous experience as the subject of a

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