The House Ethics Committee found “substantial evidence” former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., participated in “prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use” and obstruction of Congress in a long-awaited report on alleged misconduct.
Earlier this morning, Gaetz sought a restraining order in federal court to prevent the report’s release. Gaetz has strenuously denied sexually abusing a minor, and a Justice Department investigation produced no criminal charges.
“The record overwhelmingly suggests that Representative Gaetz had sex with multiple women” at a 2017 Florida party, “including the then-17-year-old, for which they were paid,” the committee found.
“Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex,” the report said. “At the time, she had just completed her junior year of high school.”
That witness told the committee she had not informed Gaetz she was younger than 18, “nor did he ask her age,” the committee reportedly found.
The bipartisan committee voted in secret earlier this month to release the report, despite objections from some Republicans. This decision marked a significant turnaround for the committee, which had previously chosen not to release the report in November. The change occurred after Gaetz resigned shortly after Trump nominated him to be the U.S. Attorney General, the top law enforcement official in the nation and head of the Justice Department.
Members of the House Ethics Committee:
Stephen Batchelder House Ethics Committee
• Chairman Michael Guest, (R-Miss)
• David P. Joyce, (R-Ohio)
• John H. Rutherford, (R-Fla)
• Andrew R. Garbarino, (R-NY)
• Michelle Fischbach, (R-Minn)
• Ranking Member Susan Wild, (D-Penn)
• Veronica Escobar, (D, Texas)
• Mark DeSaulnier, (D-Cal)
• Deborah K. Ross, (D-NC)
• Glenn F. Ivey, (D-MD)
