The U.S. House Ethics Committee unexpectedly released a report on December 23 investigating the sex scandal of Gaetz, who was initially chosen by Trump as Attorney General. The report reveals that Gaetz, while serving as a congressman, spent tens of thousands of dollars regularly soliciting prostitutes, including a 17-year-old minor, and used illegal drugs multiple times.
Matt Gaetz, 42, has been serving as a congressman from Florida since 2017 and is a far-right conservative in the Republican Party. On November 13, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Gaetz as Attorney General. The nomination was opposed by Democratic and some Republican members of Congress. On November 21, Gaetz announced he was withdrawing his nomination for Attorney General.
At the time, the House Ethics Committee was preparing to vote on whether to release information about Gaetz's sex scandal, but his sudden resignation delayed the matter.
The political news website Axios reported that the Ethics Committee quietly voted in early December, with two Republicans and five Democrats agreeing to release the report.
The New York Times reported that the 37-page report accuses Gaetz of a series of illegal and inappropriate behaviors. The investigation team stated, "The committee believes there is sufficient evidence that Gaetz violated House rules and other prohibitions on prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, acceptance of gifts, privilege or special treatment, and obstructing Congress conduct."
Sexual Relations with Constituents Needing Care
Gaetz engaged in prostition multiple times from 2017 to 2020, paying tens of thousands of dollars for sex or drug use, including with a 17-year-old minor. From 2017 to 2019, he used drugs, such as cocaine and ecstasy, multiple times. He also exploited his position to have sexual relations with constituents who needed care.
The report focuses on Gaetz's vacation in the Bahamas in 2018, during which he allegedly had sex with four women and used ecstasy.
However, it remains unclear whether Gaetz will face further prosecution, as the report concludes that Gaetz violated Florida's prostitution laws but does not refer the case to court.
Moreover, the committee's expert panel did not find "sufficient substantial evidence" to accuse Gaetz of knowingly engaging in sexual activity with a minor, although his actions did violate Florida's statutory rape laws.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and on December 23, he took to the social media platform X to deny the allegations.
Matt Gaetz, 42, has been serving as a congressman from Florida since 2017 and is a far-right conservative in the Republican Party. On November 13, President-elect Trump announced his intention to nominate Gaetz as Attorney General. The nomination was opposed by Democratic and some Republican members of Congress. On November 21, Gaetz announced he was withdrawing his nomination for Attorney General.
At the time, the House Ethics Committee was preparing to vote on whether to release information about Gaetz's sex scandal, but his sudden resignation delayed the matter.
The political news website Axios reported that the Ethics Committee quietly voted in early December, with two Republicans and five Democrats agreeing to release the report.
The New York Times reported that the 37-page report accuses Gaetz of a series of illegal and inappropriate behaviors. The investigation team stated, "The committee believes there is sufficient evidence that Gaetz violated House rules and other prohibitions on prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, acceptance of gifts, privilege or special treatment, and obstructing Congress conduct."
Sexual Relations with Constituents Needing Care
Gaetz engaged in prostition multiple times from 2017 to 2020, paying tens of thousands of dollars for sex or drug use, including with a 17-year-old minor. From 2017 to 2019, he used drugs, such as cocaine and ecstasy, multiple times. He also exploited his position to have sexual relations with constituents who needed care.
The report focuses on Gaetz's vacation in the Bahamas in 2018, during which he allegedly had sex with four women and used ecstasy.
However, it remains unclear whether Gaetz will face further prosecution, as the report concludes that Gaetz violated Florida's prostitution laws but does not refer the case to court.
Moreover, the committee's expert panel did not find "sufficient substantial evidence" to accuse Gaetz of knowingly engaging in sexual activity with a minor, although his actions did violate Florida's statutory rape laws.
Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and on December 23, he took to the social media platform X to deny the allegations.