The House Ethics Committee is about to release a long-awaited report that accuses former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) of breaking House rules and both state and federal laws, including allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use, according to a draft obtained by Axios.
Why does this matter? Gaetz has always denied any wrongdoing, and although a Justice Department investigation didn’t result in any charges, the committee’s findings could have a big impact on his chances of holding public office again.
The big picture: After Gaetz resigned last month, the committee lost its authority to continue investigating him, which sparked a debate about whether they could still make the report public. Last week, it became clear the report would be released, and Gaetz admitted to some “embarrassing” behavior in his past, though he insists it wasn’t criminal. He also criticized the committee’s decision to go ahead with publishing the report.
Gaetz filed a lawsuit in federal court, hoping to block the release of the report, claiming it contains false and defamatory statements that could hurt his reputation.
What’s in the report? The 42-page draft says the committee found “substantial evidence” that Gaetz paid for sex regularly between 2017 and 2020, had sex with a 17-year-old in 2017, and used cocaine and ecstasy multiple times during that period. It also accuses Gaetz of accepting improper gifts, misusing his official resources, and even lying to the State Department to help a sexual partner get a passport. Gaetz is also accused of obstructing the investigation.
The committee says it based its findings on nearly 14,000 documents and testimonies from over two dozen witnesses.
What’s the controversy? While most members of the committee voted to release the report, a few were against it. The committee initially decided not to release it but changed its mind last week. Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.) wrote a dissenting opinion, stating that while they don’t dispute the findings, releasing the report goes against the committee’s usual standards.
The financial side: According to the report, Gaetz sent at least $91,000 to a dozen women between 2017 and 2020, with records showing payments made via bank and payment apps. One of the women said, “Matt Gaetz paid me for sex; that was the extent of our interaction.”
One of the women Gaetz is accused of having sex with when she was 17 testified that she was “certain” about their encounters. Gaetz has strongly denied the allegations and has maintained that he never had sex with a minor.
The pushback: Gaetz says the accusations are false, and he refused to cooperate with the committee’s subpoena. He even stated that the House wouldn’t enforce the subpoena, according to the report.
Other allegations: The report also accuses Gaetz of accepting improper gifts during a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, including lodging, food, and flights. One woman, who was not from Gaetz’s district, testified that Gaetz helped her get an expedited passport through his chief of staff.
Obstruction of the investigation: Gaetz is accused of delaying the investigation by missing deadlines and providing only a small number of records, most of which were irrelevant or publicly available.
Legal violations: While the report doesn’t have enough evidence to suggest that Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, it claims he violated state laws against prostitution and sex with a minor. It also says he broke federal laws related to obstruction and lying to Congress, along with multiple House rules and ethics violations.
In the end, the report concludes that Gaetz’s actions have reflected poorly on the House, calling them “discreditable.”
