In a recent revelation, a bipartisan House committee has found “substantial evidence” that former Representative Matt Gaetz paid several women for sex, including a 17-year-old girl, while serving in Congress. The report also states that Gaetz engaged in illegal drug use and operated under questionable ethical standards, according to the document released by the committee this Monday.
Additionally, Gaetz, whose nomination for attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump was reconsidered, had unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the report’s publication due to a clerical error in his court filing. The committee highlighted that Gaetz’s actions breached multiple House Rules, including those on prostitution, statutory rape, drug use, and the acceptance of impermissible gifts.
The investigative report further alleges that Gaetz used a fake email from his congressional office to purchase marijuana and accepted excessive undisclosed gifts, like a 2018 trip to the Bahamas. Despite these allegations, Gaetz, who resigned from his role in Congress in November, continues to deny any wrongdoing. He has publicly criticized the credibility of witnesses relied upon by the Ethics Committee, even as the report finds their testimonies credible.
While Gaetz dismissed the allegations in a series of posts on the social media platform X, he acknowledged that he partied, drank, and smoked excessively in the past, maintaining that he now leads a different lifestyle.
His political future, however, remains uncertain. Though a Justice Department investigation into the same allegations did not result in charges, the published report brings new attention to these claims amidst speculations about Gaetz’s interest in running for the governorship of Florida.
The decision to release the report is notable, as it was initially kept under wraps after Gaetz’s resignation. The release indicates bipartisan consensus, with at least one Republican joining Democrats in voting to make the findings public.