The House Ethics Committee released a report detailing various salacious allegations against former Congressman Matt Gaetz, including accusations of sex with an underage girl. The report cites text messages, travel receipts, online payments, and testimony to paint a picture of a lifestyle in which Gaetz and others connected with younger women for drug-fueled parties and events. Gaetz, who filed a lawsuit to block the report’s release, denied any wrongdoing and insisted he never had sex with a minor, with the Justice Department also not filing any charges against him after an investigation into the allegations.
The committee found that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women, likely in connection with sexual activity and drug use. Payments were made through online services such as PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp. Women interviewed by the committee said there was a general expectation of sex, with one woman stating that 99% of the time she hung out with Gaetz, sex was involved. Despite being in a long-term relationship with one woman he paid, Gaetz would ask women to bring drugs to their encounters. The report includes text messages of Gaetz inviting various women to events, getaways, or parties, arranging travel, and lodging.
The committee’s report also indicates substantial evidence that Gaetz had sex with an underage girl at a party in July 2017. The then-17-year-old received $400 from Gaetz, which she understood to be payment for sex, according to the report. While there is no evidence that Gaetz knew she was a minor, the committee found that he became aware of her age more than a month after the encounter but continued to stay in touch with her and engage in commercial sex after she turned 18. Gaetz had claimed that evidence would exonerate him but failed to produce any such materials, and his obstruction of the investigation was deemed inconsistent with the requirement for all members of Congress to act in a manner that reflects creditably upon the House.
The report details Gaetz’s non-compliance with subpoenas for his testimony and reluctance to provide information requested by the committee, leading to a prolonged investigation that dragged on for over a year. Gaetz’s refusal to cooperate with the committee, provide evidence that would exonerate him, and his attempts to mislead the investigators were noted in the report. While Gaetz called the investigation frivolous and claimed that every investigation into him ends with his exoneration, the committee found that his obstructive behavior did not amount to a criminal violation but was not in line with the standards of conduct expected of members of Congress.
The committee’s probe into Gaetz was delayed due to his non-compliance, as well as the lack of cooperation from the Justice Department. Despite the Justice Department’s request to pause the investigation while they conducted their own probe, they did not provide meaningful evidence or information to the committee. The agency’s refusal to disclose information about investigations that do not result in charges further hindered the committee’s ability to gather information. Many women who spoke to the committee had already given statements to the Justice Department and did not want to provide additional testimony about a sitting congressman given the lack of action taken on their previous testimony. The Justice Department’s lack of cooperation significantly impeded the committee’s investigation into Gaetz’s alleged misconduct.
