The final House Ethics Committee report following a years long investigation of former Rep. Matt Gaetz found evidence that the former lawmaker violated House rules and possible state laws.
“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,” the report reads.
The investigation was launched after Gaetz was accused of paying multiple women for sex, including the 17-year-old girl. The Department of Justice last year told Gaetz that he would not face federal sex-trafficking charges related to those accusations.
Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and blames the accusations on a smear campaign
But the Ethics Committee found that Gaetz “regularly paid” women to engage in sexual activity with him and for drugs.
The report alleges Gaetz paid over $90,000 to 12 women between 2017 and 2020, with the payments “likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use.”
One woman, who is identified as a “former girlfriend,” received $63,836.58 between 2017 and 2020.
Another woman was a 17-year-old girl, identified in the report as Victim A, who allegedly had sex with Gaetz at a house party in 2017.
“Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that evening, which she understood to be payment for sex,” the report states. “Victim A said she did not inform Representative Gaetz that she was under 18 at the time, nor did he ask her age.”
The report noted that while all the women who testified said the sexual encounters with Gaetz were consensual, one woman told the committee the use of drugs at the parties and events they attended may have “impair[ed their] ability to really know what was going on or fully consent.”
Another woman told the committee, “When I look back on certain moments, I feel violated.”
