(WASHINGTON) — On Monday, the House Ethics Committee released a report accusing Matt Gaetz of frequently engaging in paid sexual activities, including with a minor, and using illegal drugs while serving in Congress. This report culminates from an extensive investigation that lasted nearly four years and contributed to the failure of his nomination as attorney general.
The 37-page document from the bipartisan committee reveals troubling details about Gaetz’s activities from 2017 to 2020, during which he represented Florida’s western panhandle. The report describes a series of lavish parties and vacations centered around sexual encounters.
Investigators determined that Gaetz breached several state laws concerning sexual misconduct while in office, though he was not found to have violated federal sex trafficking statutes. Furthermore, they concluded that Gaetz attempted to obstruct the committee’s investigation.
“The evidence indicates that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and standards by engaging in prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, accepting improper gifts, and obstructing Congress,” the report states.
Prior to the report’s release, Gaetz denied any allegations of misconduct and criticized the investigation’s process. He expressed his disbelief on X (formerly Twitter) by questioning whether giving money to a partner without a sexual transaction constituted prostitution. He also noted that the timing of the report’s release was suspicious, suggesting it was more intended for public consumption than for legal proceedings.
Since his election as a Republican in 2017, Gaetz has been embroiled in multiple scandals that culminated in the withdrawal of his nomination by President-elect Donald Trump for the attorney general position. Gaetz’s political career is now uncertain, although he has shown interest in vying for an open Senate seat in Florida.
The committee’s report paints a damaging picture of Gaetz’s behavior, supported by numerous exhibits, including text messages, financial documents, travel receipts, and online payment records. The Ethics Committee gathered this evidence after issuing 29 subpoenas and interviewing over two dozen witnesses.
In addition to the allegations of soliciting prostitution, the report also states that Gaetz “accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging for a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, exceeding allowed limits.”
In 2018, investigators allege that Gaetz facilitated his chief of staff in obtaining a passport for a woman he was involved with, misleading the State Department about her being a constituent.
Text messages appear to show Gaetz inviting various women to events and arranging travel accommodations. In one exchange, he inquires whether a woman has a “cute black dress” to wear to an occasion, alongside discussions about sending goods.
One exhibit includes a conversation between two women expressing concerns about financial matters, while another shows someone asking Gaetz for assistance with educational expenses.
Regarding the allegation involving the 17-year-old girl, the committee found no evidence that Gaetz was aware of her age during their encounter. The woman testified that she did not inform Gaetz of her minor status and that he was unaware at the time.
The committee noted that Gaetz only learned of her age a month after the incident, yet he continued to communicate with her and met for sexual encounters again shortly after she turned 18. Under Florida law, individuals aged 24 or older engaging in sexual activities with minors face felony charges, with no allowance for claiming ignorance as a defense.
Joel Leppard, representing two women who testified against Gaetz, stated that the findings support his clients’ claims and validate their credibility. He commended the committee for its transparency in releasing the detailed report.
Despite initial resistance from many GOP members, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, at least one Republican voted alongside all five Democrats on the Ethics Committee to make the report public.
While it is common for ethics reports to surface after a member resigns, it is rare for them to be released while the individual is no longer in office.
Michael Guest, the Ethics chairman and a Republican who opposed the report’s release, argued that the committee deviated from established practices by continuing investigations of former members.
“We believe that operating outside the jurisdictional boundaries set by House Rules is a significant risk that could have dire consequences,” he stated.
In a last-minute move to stop the report’s publication, Gaetz filed a lawsuit claiming it contained “false and defamatory information” that could harm his reputation. His legal team argued that he no longer falls under the committee’s jurisdiction since his resignation.
“The Committee’s assertion that it can publish potentially defamatory findings about a private citizen, over whom it claims no jurisdiction, represents an unprecedented overreach of Congressional authority that jeopardizes constitutional rights,” Gaetz’s attorneys contended in their request for a temporary restraining order.
The bipartisan committee has been investigating allegations against Gaetz since 2021, but the urgency of their inquiry increased when Trump named Gaetz as his preferred candidate for attorney general shortly after the recent elections. Gaetz subsequently resigned from Congress, placing him outside the committee’s jurisdiction.
Despite Gaetz’s resignation and withdrawal from the attorney general nomination, Democrats pushed for the report’s release. A recent vote in the House to make the report public was unsuccessful, with nearly all Republicans opposing it.
The committee described the challenges faced during its investigation, including delays caused by the Justice Department’s parallel investigation into Gaetz, which ultimately did not result in any charges.
Lawmakers attempted to obtain details from the Justice Department about its findings, but the agency declined to provide information about investigations that do not lead to charges.
After issuing subpoenas to the Justice Department for information, the committee received minimal responses, primarily comprising publicly available information regarding a deceased witness’s testimony.
“To date, the DOJ has offered no substantial evidence or rationale for its actions,” the committee noted.
In its report, the committee also highlighted Gaetz’s lack of cooperation throughout the investigation, indicating that he provided limited documentation and did not agree to a voluntary interview.
___ Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.
