- Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress after nomination as AG
- Report found Gaetz spent at least $97,200 for sex and drugs
- Gaetz filed a lawsuit Monday attempting to block the report’s release
A newly released House Ethics Committee report accuses former U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz of engaging in illicit behavior, including using drugs and paying for sex with multiple women, some of whom were underage. The findings detail misconduct that allegedly occurred during his time in Congress and highlight efforts to impede the investigation into his actions.
The 37-page report outlines evidence suggesting that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars for sex and drugs, including payments to a 17-year-old girl in 2017, violating Florida’s statutory rape law. The committee also documented Gaetz’s possession of drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy during this period.
In addition to these allegations, the report reveals that Gaetz used digital payment platforms like Venmo and PayPal to compensate women, with investigators focusing on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas. On this trip, Gaetz reportedly engaged in sexual activities with multiple women, including one who described the trip itself as payment for her involvement. Witness accounts also noted Gaetz’s drug use during the trip.
One particularly alarming instance detailed in the report involved Gaetz arranging for his Chief of Staff to help a woman he had a relationship with obtain a passport by falsely presenting her as a constituent. The report also states that Gaetz paid “Victim A,” a high school junior, $400 for sex. Investigators concluded that Florida law does not absolve individuals of responsibility for statutory rape even if they are unaware of the victim’s age.
Gaetz’s resignation from Congress came after being named as then-President Donald Trump’s pick for Attorney General. However, he later withdrew his nomination, citing the controversy as a distraction to Trump’s administration.
The report also accuses Gaetz of obstructing the House Ethics Committee’s investigation, with evidence of over $95,000 in payments linked to sexual encounters and drug use. Text messages reviewed by investigators reveal Gaetz requested women to bring drugs to their meetings.
In response to the report, Gaetz filed a lawsuit against the committee, claiming its findings contain defamatory allegations and violate its jurisdiction since he is no longer a member of Congress. Gaetz also criticized the timing of the report’s release, calling it a deliberate attack on his reputation during the holiday season.
Acknowledging his past behavior in a social media post, Gaetz admitted to “partying, womanizing, drinking, and smoking” excessively during his 30s, while maintaining that his actions were embarrassing but not criminal. He emphasized that he has since adopted a different lifestyle.
Despite the allegations, the report states that investigators found insufficient evidence to charge Gaetz with violating federal sex trafficking laws. However, the panel justified releasing the findings in the public interest due to the seriousness of the claims and their implications for House rules and standards of conduct.
