WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee has publicly revealed its findings regarding Representative Matt Gaetz, accusing him of illicit sexual conduct, including engaging in sexual activities with a 17-year-old girl and participating in drug use while serving in Congress. This report comes after a lengthy investigation that lasted almost four years, which has adversely affected Gaetz’s nomination for the role of attorney general.
The committee’s comprehensive 37-page report outlines numerous incidents of Gaetz’s alleged misconduct from 2017 to 2020, during which he was representing Florida’s Panhandle. The bipartisan investigation concluded that Gaetz violated several state laws pertaining to sexual misconduct while holding his congressional position but did not find him in violation of federal sex trafficking laws. Additionally, the committee expressed that Gaetz actively attempted to obstruct their probe.
The report states, “There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct that prohibit prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, improper gifts, special favors, privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” In the wake of this report, Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has openly criticized the committee’s investigation processes.
On social media, he questioned the validity of the allegations against him, arguing that financial assistance given to someone he was dating should not qualify as prostitution. Gaetz also expressed frustration that the findings were released as an official report rather than through a legal courtroom setting where he could confront witnesses and present evidence.
Since his election in 2017, Gaetz has found himself entangled in numerous controversies. These scandals ultimately led to his disqualification from the Justice Department position that President-elect Donald Trump had initially considered him for. Gaetz has recently resigned from Congress, leaving uncertainty regarding his political future, although he has signaled a desire to pursue a Senate seat in Florida.
The committee’s report provides extensive documentation of Gaetz’s alleged lifestyle, supported by various forms of evidence including messages, financial transactions, and travel documents. It indicated that the committee pursued a thorough investigation, issuing 29 subpoenas, interviewing more than two dozen witnesses, and gathering various pieces of evidence.
In addition to allegations of soliciting prostitution, the report also claims that Gaetz accepted gifts including travel and lodging during a trip to the Bahamas in 2018, which exceeded allowable limits. During the same year, it was reported that he arranged for a staff member to secure a passport for a woman with whom he was romantically involved, misleading the State Department into believing she was his constituent.
The report includes text messages where Gaetz arranged for trips and social events with women, and even asked one about a specific dress to wear. There were also communications regarding financial arrangements and educational expenses related to women he was involved with.
The allegations surrounding the 17-year-old girl concluded that while there was no evidence that Gaetz was aware of her age at the time of their encounter, he maintained contact with her and met up for sex after she had turned 18. Florida’s laws dictate that it is a felony for someone aged 24 or older to engage in sexual activity with a minor, with no legal defense allowed based on ignorance of a minor’s age.
Joel Leppard, representing two women who testified against Gaetz, stated that the findings affirmed their credibility. The release of this report had bipartisan support in the committee, despite initial resistance from some Republican members, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, towards publicly revealing the findings about a former colleague.
Chairman of the committee, Representative Michael Guest, noted that while the Republicans did not contest the report’s findings, releasing it without the person being an active member of Congress set an alarming precedent. In contrast, Democratic Representative Glenn Ivey emphasized the necessity for transparency and the importance of the findings being accessible to the public.
Attempting to block the report’s publication, Gaetz filed a lawsuit, alleging that the investigation included misleading information that could harm his reputation. He claimed he was outside the committee’s jurisdiction due to his resignation.
The bipartisan committee had been scrutinizing Gaetz since 2021, and with Gaetz’s resignation in response to Trump’s Cabinet appointment, Democrats pushed for the report’s release irrespective of his resignation. Prior attempts to make the report public via a House vote were unsuccessful, with most Republicans refusing to support it.
The lengthy investigation’s conclusion was hindered at times by the Justice Department’s own inquiries regarding Gaetz, with no criminal charges ultimately filed against him. The committee’s efforts to obtain information from the department were met with resistance, as they typically do not disclose details regarding investigations that yield no charges. Consequently, the committee sought official records through subpoenas, although they received limited information.
According to the committee, Gaetz was reportedly uncooperative during their investigation, providing minimal documentation and refusing to participate in a voluntary interview.
