PENSACOLA, Fla. (WEAR) -- The Florida Bar is now investigating former Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. The Florida Bar confirmed Friday that there is an open investigation. The agency says open discipline cases are confidential and there is no other public information.

The former congressman's comments come weeks after the House Ethics Committee released a bombshell report claiming he paid for sex with a 17-year-old

On One America News Network's "The Matt Gaetz Show," the former U.S. Congressman confirmed rumors that he is considering running for Florida governor.

Gaetz has long been considered a top contender for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2026, when incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited.

FLORIDA MAN has my vote! Godspeed From Titusville. You have my and my family’s votes here in the Space Coast, Matt!👍 As if Florida wasnt already weird enough...

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody have each been rumored to be considering a run for the Republican nomination. (Moody is also widely seen as the top candidate to be DeSantis’ choice to succeed Marco Rubio in the Senate.)

GOP primary vote on the horizon, 10 candidates are in the race to replace Matt Gaetz as Florida's District 1 congressman.

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that he is "reviewing the opportunity" of possibly mounting a gubernatorial bid. The former House lawmaker noted that if he ultimately decides to throw his hat into the ring, he would need to engage in "active steps toward a run" toward the end of 2025.

The former congressman was the focus of a House Ethics panel report accusing him of “regularly” paying for sex and using drugs, which helped doom his short-lived nomination for attorney general.

Former MAGA congressman, Donald Trump’s first choice for US attorney general, now considering run to succeed term-limited Ron DeSantis in 2026

Matt Gaetz said on his talk show that he will consider running after resigning from his Congressional seat and withdrawing as Trump's attorney general nominee.

House members applauded an official announcement on Friday that former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz will not return to Congress this term. Newsweek reached out to One America News Network, which airs The Matt Gaetz Show, for comment from Gaetz via email on Friday.