The US House Ethics Committee has accused Republican Matt Gaetz of paying women for sex, including a 17-year-old-girl, and use of illicit drugs while the Florida native was a member of Congress in a damning new 37-page report.
The House Ethics Committee has accused former Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying women for sex, including one with an underage girl, in a new report by the committee’s bipartisan panel.
The 37-page report includes explicit details alleging the former congressman participated in “sex-filled” parties and vacations from 2017 through to 2020 while the Republican was a member of Congress.
The findings concluded that Gaetz, Trump’s pick for attorney general, had violated multiple state-level laws related to sexual misconduct during his time in office.
The report contains dozens of pages of exhibits and evidence against Gaetz, including text messages, financial records, travel receipts and online payments.
The often secretive bipartisan panel has reportedly been investigating claims against the former Florida representative since 2021.
“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 favours or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report said.
Gaetz denies any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence, stressing that he has never had sex with a minor.
The Republican slammed the committee’s findings, adding that he was in a long-term committed relationship with one of the women the report indicates was paid in exchange for sexual services.
In addition to soliciting prostitution, the Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of accepting gifts, including transportation and lodging, in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas that exceeded the congressionally permitted amounts.
Last month, US President-elect Donald Trump picked Gaetz shortly after his victory in the 5 November presidential election to become his cabinet’s top legal advisor, nominating him for attorney general.
Gaetz resigned from Congress that same day, putting him outside the purview of the committee’s jurisdiction, and withdrew his name from consideration for office.
Gaetz said the controversy surrounding his name was becoming an unfair distraction to Trump’s incoming administration.
On Monday, Gaetz filed a last-minute lawsuit in an effort to block the report’s release.
His legal team slammed the US House Panel for attempting to orchestrate an unprecedented move and stressed that, since his resignation, the former congressman is no longer under their jurisdiction.
