The financial transactions of Matt Gaetz, recently nominated as U.S. Attorney General by President-elect Donald Trump, are under intense scrutiny. Between 2017 and 2019, Gaetz allegedly sent over $10,000 via Venmo to two women who later testified in sexual misconduct probes. The payment records, obtained by the House Ethics Committee, feature eyebrow-raising notes like “Travel,” “Refreshments,” and even emojis.
In one instance, a $750 check labeled “tuition reimbursement” was flagged as part of the investigation. Critics are questioning whether these payments were innocuous gestures of generosity, as Gaetz claims, or evidence of misconduct.
With Gaetz resigning from Congress just days before the House Ethics Committee’s anticipated report, the timing of his departure raises further suspicion. As the Justice Department previously declined to press charges, these revelations could impact Gaetz’s confirmation process as Trump’s attorney general nominee.
Could these Venmo records derail Gaetz’s political ambitions, or will they solidify his reputation as a polarizing figure in U.S. politics?