The House Ethics Committee has finally released the long-awaited, much-anticipated report on the investigation of Matt Gaetz. He has been under investigation since 2021, and allegations include those concerning sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, accepting improper gifts, giving special favors to people with whom he had personal relationships, and obstructing the House Ethics probe.
The Investigation was thought to have ended when Gaetz resigned from Congress immediately after the election when it was announced that he was President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General. However, as details emerged about the testimony of women who appeared before the Ethics committee, He subsequently withdrew his name from consideration for the office.
Details of Committee Report on Gaetz
Some of the findings released by the committee include:
- That there is “substantial evidence” that Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a minor. The report details two alleged encounters in 2017 at a party with a 17-year-old girl. The former congressman was 35 at the time, and the activity was a clear violation of Florida’s statutory rape law. The report suggests that he was not aware that the girl was 17 until more than a month after the sexual encounters. He did, however, meet up with her again after she turned 18 and paid her $400 for commercial sex.
- The report also found that there is “substantial evidence” that Gaetz paid 12 different women for sex, thereby violating Florida State Law. These rendezvous occurred between 2017-2020, and more than $90,000 was paid out to these women.
- The report found that there is “substantial evidence” that Gaetz consumed illegal drugs from 2017-2020. Among the drugs listed are cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana, in violation of Florida laws. It is purported that he set up a false email account from his Washington D.C. House office to purchase marijuana.”
- Further, the committee said there is “substantial evidence” that Gaetz accepted gifts that exceeded the permitted limit of $100. Members of Congress must apply for a waiver to accept aggregated gifts over that limit. The committee said that he was on a trip to the Bahamas in 2018, and his expenses for airfare, hotel, food, and other forms of entertainment exceeded the $100 limit.
- Also, the committee alleges that Gaetz used his office to help a woman who was a sexual partner obtain an expedited passport in violation of House regulations and laws. The woman was not a constituent (despite his claim at the time).
- Finally, the committee found that Gaetz tried to obstruct its investigation. During the investigation, he was uncooperative, did not agree to a voluntary interview with the committee, provided minimal documentation in response to requests, and ignored a subpoena from the committee to provide testimony.
Response and Lawsuit
Gaettz has categorically denied any wrongdoing. Matt Gaetz unsuccessfully filed a last-minute lawsuit today to block the release of the House Ethics report, stating that it no longer had jurisdiction to release the information after he resigned from Congress. The committee interviewed over a dozen witnesses, issued 29 subpoenas, and reviewed almost 14,000 documents.
