The Home Ethics Committee has launched its long-awaited report with the findings from its prolonged investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz concerning allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use and obstruction. You’ll be able to learn the complete report beneath.
Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. However the report finds “substantial proof” that Gaetz, a Florida Republican, paid quite a few ladies — together with a 17-year-old lady — for intercourse, and bought and used unlawful medication.
The committee quietly voted earlier this month to launch its report on the investigation, reversing course after Republicans on the panel initially objected.
On Monday, Gaetz filed a lawsuit in federal court docket looking for to dam the discharge, saying that he’s now a personal citizen and never topic to the jurisdiction of the committee. The committee launched its report a short while later.
Learn the complete Matt Gaetz report
Gaetz was first elected in 2016, and many of the allegations documented within the report occurred between 2017 and 2020.
Gaetz resigned from Congress in November, shortly after President-elect Donald Trump introduced plans to appoint him for lawyer common. However Gaetz quickly withdrew from consideration as he confronted a contentious affirmation course of.
It is extremely uncommon, however not unprecedented, for the Home Ethics Committee to launch a report on a member who’s not in workplace.
Two ladies interviewed by the committee about Gaetz testified that he paid them instantly and repeatedly in Venmo transactions “for intercourse,” and that these transactions had been obtained by the committee, an lawyer for the ladies advised CBS Information final month. The lawyer, Joel Leppard, additionally mentioned the ladies testified that Gaetz inquired in textual content messages about “social gathering favors” and “nutritional vitamins” at upcoming events, which was understood to be code for medication.
Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing, together with allegations that he had intercourse with a minor. After the committee voted to launch the report, Gaetz posted a assertion on X in response, saying he “in all probability partied, womanized, drank and smoked” greater than he ought to have, however insisting he did nothing unlawful.
“In my single days, I usually despatched funds to ladies I dated — even some I by no means dated however who requested,” he wrote. “I dated a number of of those ladies for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with somebody beneath 18. Any declare that I’ve can be destroyed in court docket — which is why no such declare was ever made in court docket.”
Gaetz married his spouse, Ginger Luckey Gaetz, in 2021.
Gaetz says he can be launching a brand new present on the pro-Trump One America Information Community in January.
Michael Kaplan and
contributed to this report.
