Former Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida who was once briefly considered for the position of attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump, has been implicated in a series of serious allegations following a lengthy investigation by the House Ethics Committee. According to the committee’s findings, Gaetz paid multiple women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sexual encounters, a practice that constitutes a clear violation of state laws related to sexual misconduct.
The investigation also revealed that Gaetz engaged in the purchase and use of illegal drugs, some of which were reportedly acquired and consumed from his Capitol Hill office while he was serving as a member of Congress. These revelations are part of the committee’s comprehensive report, which was released to the public on Monday, outlining Gaetz’s actions that breach both ethical standards and legal boundaries during his tenure in office.
The findings highlight the gravity of the accusations, showing that Gaetz not only misused his position of power but also engaged in behavior that directly contravenes state and federal laws. The report marks the conclusion of a long-running inquiry into his conduct, shedding light on actions that have further fueled controversy surrounding the former congressman.
The House Ethics Committee has concluded in a 37-page report that there is significant evidence indicating former Representative Matt Gaetz violated numerous House Rules and standards of conduct. The violations outlined in the report include engaging in prostitution, statutory rape, the use of illicit drugs, accepting improper gifts, granting special favors or privileges, and obstructing Congress. These findings paint a damning picture of Gaetz’s alleged misconduct during his time in office.
In response to the impending release of the report, Gaetz, who is now a private citizen, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Monday in an attempt to block its publication. Gaetz argued that as a former congressman, he is no longer under the committee’s jurisdiction and therefore should not be subject to its rulings or disclosures. Despite his legal efforts, the Ethics Committee proceeded to release the report shortly after the lawsuit was filed, making its findings available to the public.
The release of the report further amplifies the scrutiny surrounding Gaetz and raises questions about accountability for actions committed while holding public office. The allegations and evidence presented in the report are likely to have far-reaching implications, both legally and politically.
Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress in November after former President Donald Trump announced plans to nominate him for the role of attorney general. However, facing resistance from within his own party, Gaetz withdrew from consideration just a week later. The release of the House Ethics Committee’s report marks the end—at least for now—of Gaetz’s contentious tenure on Capitol Hill, where he was known as one of the most outspoken and polarizing figures in the pro-Trump faction of Congress.
Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the allegations as baseless smears orchestrated by his political adversaries. Despite these denials, the committee noted that Gaetz refused to testify under oath during the investigation, opting instead to submit written responses to some of their questions.
The report sheds new light on longstanding accusations against Gaetz, supported by witness testimony, text messages discussing payments, and financial records from Venmo and PayPal. Witnesses testified that they were paid to engage in sexual acts with Gaetz, providing further evidence of misconduct that has surrounded him for years, despite his repeated denials.
The House Ethics Committee report revealed some of its most shocking findings, including allegations of parties and trips involving sex and drug use. One such instance was a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, where witnesses claimed that Matt Gaetz took ecstasy and engaged in sexual activities with four women.
According to the report, from 2017 to 2020, Gaetz made payments totaling over $90,000 to 12 women. The committee concluded these payments were likely tied to sexual activities and/or drug use.
According to the House Ethics Committee, testimony was provided regarding a 2017 party where Matt Gaetz allegedly engaged in sexual relations on two occasions with an individual referred to as “Victim A.” At the time of the incident, Victim A was 17 years old and had recently completed her junior year of high school. The committee’s report highlighted this testimony as part of its broader investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving the former congressman.
The House Ethics Committee reported that Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Matt Gaetz during the 2017 party, which she understood to be payment for sex. She stated that she did not inform Gaetz of her age, nor did he ask her how old she was at the time.
In his written response to the committee, Gaetz denied having sexual relations with a minor. The Department of Justice had previously investigated him for possible violations of sex trafficking laws but chose not to bring charges. The committee stated that while Gaetz did transport women across state lines for sexual purposes, the women involved were all over the age of 18, and there was insufficient evidence to support a violation of federal sex trafficking laws.
The report revealed that while all the women who testified said their sexual encounters with Matt Gaetz were consensual, one woman expressed concerns that the use of drugs at parties and events they attended might have impaired their ability to fully understand what was happening or provide clear consent. Another woman said that, upon reflecting on certain moments, she felt violated.
The committee also found significant evidence of Gaetz’s extensive illicit drug use. It obtained text messages in which Gaetz referred to drugs as “party favors,” “rolls,” or “vitamins.” Additionally, the report mentioned that Gaetz had used a fake email account from his Capitol Hill office to purchase marijuana. Gaetz denied using illicit drugs in his written responses to the committee.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Gaetz acknowledged sending money to women he dated, including some he did not date, but defended his actions as non-criminal. He admitted to having engaged in partying, womanizing, drinking, and smoking more than he should have during his younger years, but claimed to live a different life now.
The report also accused Gaetz of accepting luxury travel gifts that exceeded permissible limits, such as during a 2018 trip to the Bahamas. Furthermore, it revealed that Gaetz had arranged for his chief of staff to help a woman he had been sexually involved with obtain a passport, falsely claiming she was one of his constituents in order to facilitate the process with the State Department.
In his lawsuit filed Monday, Matt Gaetz argued that the House Ethics Committee’s decision to release its report, despite acknowledging it lacked jurisdiction over former members, violated constitutional due process rights and failed to follow its own procedural rules. He described the committee’s actions as an unprecedented overreach that undermines fundamental legal protections.
Gaetz had previously told conservative commentator Charlie Kirk that he intends to spend the coming years “fighting for President Trump.” While he indicated that his time in Congress had likely come to an end, mentioning that “eight years is probably enough,” he also raised the possibility of returning to run for House Speaker in a post on X last week.
Initially, the House Ethics Committee had voted to keep the report confidential, but this decision was reversed in a secret vote earlier this month. Two Republican members of the committee were among those who voted in favor of releasing it, according to sources familiar with the matter. The committee, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, has 10 members in total.
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