A leaked draft of a House Ethics Committee report on Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz contains explosive allegations of misconduct, including evidence he paid for sex with a minor. The confidential document, obtained by CNN, concludes the embattled Florida representative engaged in sex trafficking, illicit drug use, and obstruction of a congressional investigation.
“Substantial Evidence” of Wrongdoing
After a three-year probe, the Republican-led ethics panel reportedly found “substantial evidence” that Gaetz violated federal law and House rules prohibiting statutory rape and prostitution. The draft report details how the Trump ally allegedly made payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars to numerous women in exchange for sex on at least 20 occasions, including to a 17-year-old girl in 2017.
The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.
— House Ethics Committee draft report
Investigators highlighted a 2018 trip to the Bahamas where Gaetz allegedly “engaged in sexual activity” with multiple women, one of whom said the getaway itself served as “payment” for her services. Gaetz also allegedly took ecstasy on the trip, violating House gift rules.
Digital Payments Uncovered
The draft report states that Gaetz used apps like Venmo and PayPal to transfer money directly to over a dozen women during his time in Congress. This digital paper trail provided key evidence to corroborate witness testimony of the congressman’s transactional relationships.
From DOJ Probe to Ethics Inquiry
The House investigation was triggered in spring 2021 after the Department of Justice launched a separate criminal probe into the allegations against Gaetz. While the DOJ ultimately did not file charges, the ethics committee moved forward with its own inquiry into a range of accusations, including:
- Sexual misconduct and illicit drug use
- Sharing inappropriate images on House floor
- Misuse of state identification records
- Converting campaign funds for personal use
- Improper acceptance of gifts
Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. But the leaked report’s findings cast doubt on his claims of innocence and exoneration.
Abrupt Resignation and Withdrawn Nomination
The damning revelations come on the heels of Gaetz’s sudden resignation from Congress last month, shortly after former President Trump nominated him as Attorney General. Amid a fierce bipartisan backlash, the congressman withdrew his name from consideration before facing contentious Senate confirmation hearings where the unreleased ethics report was expected to take center stage.
Some accused Gaetz of a calculated maneuver to shield the investigation’s findings from public view and congressional scrutiny. The ethics committee’s original vote along party lines not to release the report fueled speculation that top House Republicans aimed to protect one of their own.
Gaetz Slams “Embarrassing” Report
In a scathing social media post, Gaetz blasted the ethics panel’s decision to release the draft he can no longer contest as a former member of Congress. Calling his thirties a time of “working very hard – and playing hard too,” he admitted to behavior that was “embarrassing, though not criminal.”
The leaked document is sure to have major political reverberations, underscoring the severity of the allegations that derailed Gaetz’s Attorney General ambitions. As the details of the congressman’s alleged misconduct come to light, it raises serious questions about accountability, transparency and the handling of ethics complaints against those in the highest echelons of government.
