House Ethics Committee Alleges Matt Gaetz Violated Laws, Releases Report On Misconduct

The House Ethics Committee's report found former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), who was initially picked by President-elect Donald Trump to be Attorney General, had allegedly paid tens of thousands of dollars to women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex or drugs, according to the report, obtained by CNN.

The bombshell document, released Monday, alleges that Gaetz had, on at least 20 occasions, violated Florida state laws, including the statutory rape law.

"The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress," the House Ethics panel investigators wrote.

What Happened: Shortly after Trump chose Gaetz for the AG job and he resigned from Congress, rumors began to swirl about the Florida Rep's behavior and that he was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use and more.

Once Gaetz was no longer a member of Congress, the Ethics Committee ostensibly had no jurisdiction over him, which is why CNN referred to the committee making the report public to be a "rare step of releasing a report about a former member who resigned from Congress."

Gaetz, who refused to answer most committee questions alleging bias and leaks by the Ethics Committee, allegedly organized sexual encounters with women through the dating website SeekingArrangement.com, according to the report.

Improper Use of House Resources: Bahamas Trip

While a member of Congress, noted the report, Gaetz allegedly set up a pseudonymous email account from his House office to buy weed. The report claims he also helped a woman obtain a passport by using his chief of staff and falsely stating she was a constituent.

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In terms of illicit drug use, the committee found that Gaetz allegedly used cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis between 2017 and 2019. Investigators also focused on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas – which they said "violated the House gift rule" – during which he "engaged in sexual activity" with multiple women, including one who described the trip itself as "the payment" for sex on the trip.

Gaetz denied allegations of statutory rape, characterizing his relationships as consensual dating, according to CNN. He explained the payments made via PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp as acts of generosity. The committee's report alleged that Gaetz's then-girlfriend often facilitated arrangements and participated in sexual encounters.

"In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years," Gaetz said in a statement on X last week after CNN reported that the committee had voted to release the report. "It's embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now," Gaetz said.

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