Washington — The Home Ethics Committee on Monday launched its extremely anticipated report on the findings of its investigation into former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, detailing allegations of sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and obstruction.
Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. However the report says “[t]he Committee decided there’s substantial proof” that he “violated Home Guidelines, state and federal legal guidelines, and different requirements of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible items, the supply of particular favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
Gaetz filed a federal lawsuit earlier Monday looking for to dam the discharge of the report, arguing that the committee now not has jurisdiction since he left workplace, however the committee launched it a short while later.
Gaetz, who was first elected in 2016, resigned from Congress final month after being chosen by President-elect Donald Trump as his choose for legal professional common. Days later, Gaetz withdrew his identify from consideration, dealing with opposition to his affirmation from Senate Republicans.
Listed here are among the key takeaways from the Home Ethics Committee’s report:
Report discovered “substantial proof” Gaetz had intercourse with a minor
The committee says in its report that there’s “substantial proof” that Gaetz engaged in sexual exercise with a minor, detailing two alleged encounters with a 17-year-old woman at a celebration in 2017 when the previous congressman was 35, in violation of Florida’s statutory rape legislation.
The committee mentioned it obtained testimony from the woman, recognized as “Sufferer A,” in addition to different witnesses who corroborated the allegations. The report additionally notes that proof suggests Gaetz was not conscious that the woman was 17 till greater than a month after the sexual encounters. Sufferer A had simply accomplished her junior 12 months of highschool when the encounter occurred, the report says.
The report says Gaetz maintained contact with Sufferer A, and fewer than six months after she turned 18, he “met up together with her once more for industrial intercourse.” Sufferer A mentioned she acquired $400 from Gaetz that was understood to be fee for intercourse on the get together, the committee mentioned.
Gaetz has beforehand denied these allegations and has not been charged with against the law. In a latest publish on X, he wrote: “I NEVER had sexual contact with somebody below 18. Any declare that I’ve can be destroyed in court docket – which is why no such declare was ever made in court docket.”
Report discovered “substantial proof” Gaetz paid girls for intercourse
The report discovered “substantial proof” that Gaetz paid girls for intercourse and had others pay them on his behalf, in violation of Florida state legislation.
The report lists funds to 12 totally different girls totaling greater than $90,000 between 2017 and 2020, paid through examine or apps like PayPal, Venmo and CashApp.
The report notes that there was no proof that the intercourse acts have been “induced by pressure, fraud, or coercion.”
One of many girls testified that she met up with Gaetz at a resort, the place he was with one other man and a 20-year-old lady, and there was an “expectation” of a “sexual encounter,” after which he gave her a $750 examine with “tuition reimbursement” written within the memo line. She advised the committee that on different events “he had usually despatched Venmo funds.”
Gaetz has denied paying for intercourse. He wrote on X: “In my single days, I usually despatched funds to girls I dated – even some I by no means dated however who requested. I dated a number of of those girls for years.”
Report discovered “substantial proof” Gaetz used unlawful medication
The report says there’s “substantial proof” that Gaetz used unlawful medication between 2017 to 2019, together with cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana, in violation of state legal guidelines.
Numerous girls understood Gaetz to be a daily person of ecstasy, the report says, whereas some famous that that they had seen him use ecstasy and cocaine at totally different occasions. The report says Gaetz appeared to arrange a “pseudonymous e-mail account from his Home workplace within the Capitol complicated for the aim of buying marijuana.”
The committee famous that it additionally acquired proof that Gaetz supplied medication to
girls to facilitate sexual encounters.
Gaetz wrote on X: “It is embarrassing, although not prison, that I in all probability partied, womanized, drank and smoked greater than I ought to have earlier in life. I dwell a special life now.”
Report discovered “substantial proof” Gaetz accepted luxurious journey items in violation of Home guidelines
The committee outlines “substantial proof” that Gaetz accepted items exceeding the quantity allowed below Home guidelines, in reference to a 2018 journey to the Bahamas.
Lawmakers are required to use to the committee for a waiver with a view to settle for items that surpass a sure price threshold. The committee mentioned for Gaetz, a flight on a non-public aircraft, lodging, meal bills and leisure bills on the journey exceeded the restrict.
Report discovered “substantial proof” Gaetz used the ability of his workplace to assist a sexual associate get an expedited passport
The panel alleges that Gaetz falsely indicated to the State Division {that a} lady whom he had engaged in sexual exercise with was a constituent, and requested his chief of employees to help her in getting a passport on an expedited foundation.
“The lady was not his constituent, and the case was not dealt with in the identical method as comparable passport help instances,” the report says, calling it a violation of Home rules and legal guidelines governing using official assets.
Report discovered “substantial proof” Gaetz tried to impede the committee’s investigation
The report says Gaetz was uncooperative all through the committee’s investigation, supplied “minimal documentation” in response to its requests, and didn’t conform to a voluntary interview or seem earlier than the committee after a subpoena for his testimony.
The committee says it discovered “substantial proof” that Gaetz engaged in “obstructive conduct” when it got here to the investigation.
“Consultant Gaetz pointed to proof that will ‘exonerate’ him but failed to provide any such supplies,” the report says. “Consultant Gaetz repeatedly sought to deflect, deter, or mislead the Committee with a view to stop his actions from being uncovered.”
Michael Kaplan
contributed to this report.
