Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
The House Ethics Committee has released a damning report detailing substantial evidence that former Congressman Matt Gaetz violated state and federal laws, including allegations of paying women for sex, engaging in illicit drug use, and obstructing Congress, during his time in office.
Some shit you should know before you read: Roughly two years ago, allegations emerged that former Congressman Matt Gaetz was involved in various illegal activities, including paying women for sex and having sex with a 17-year-old, prompting a Department of Justice investigation. While the DOJ eventually declined to pursue charges against Gaetz, citing insufficient evidence to meet federal sex trafficking standards, the case gained attention when Joel Greenberg, a close associate of Gaetz and former Seminole County tax collector, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and cooperated with investigators, implicating Gaetz in his testimony. Following the conclusion of the federal probe, the House Ethics Committee opened its own investigation. Gaetz, in turn, accused former Speaker Kevin McCarthy of orchestrating the Ethics Committee’s investigation as a political weapon against him.
What’s going on now: In the Ethics Committee’s report, investigators revealed transactions where Gaetz used apps like PayPal and Venmo to pay over $90,000 to multiple women, some of whom testified they were paid specifically for sex. One of the most significant allegations involved a sexual encounter with a 17-year-old girl in 2017, who stated she received $400 from Gaetz after a party, though the Committee noted no evidence that Gaetz knew her age at the time.
The report also documented Gaetz’s use of illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, corroborated by multiple witnesses, as well as his involvement in a 2018 trip to the Bahamas where he accepted excessive gifts and engaged in sexual activity with various women.
Additionally, the Committee found that Gaetz sought to obstruct their investigation, failed to cooperate fully, and used his position to secure favors, such as helping a woman obtain a passport. Despite these findings, the Committee did not determine that Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws, as no evidence was found of coercion or involvement of underage individuals in interstate travel for commercial sex acts.
Gaetz reacts: In a statement posted on X, former congressman Gaetz said, “I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court.” Acknowledging his past lifestyle, Gaetz added, “My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life.”
