Matt Gaetz admits to ‘womanizing, drinking and smoking’ earlier as House Ethics Committee votes to release report

Matt Gaetz opened up about his “embarrassing” past after the House Ethics Committee secretly voted to release a report on his alleged sexual misconduct. Taking to social media Wednesday, the former representative defended his tainted but “not criminal” behavior in his 30s. In the lengthy statement, he vehemently denied allegations that he had sexual relations with a minor while hitting out at the committee’s decision to send a damning report on him.

Matt Gaetz defends ’embarrassing’ past, slams House Ethics Committee for false sexual abuse allegations

In the statement shared on X, Gaetz confessed to having an “embarrassing” past, “womanizing, drinking and smoking” in his 30s. However, he shut down allegations that he had sex with a minor amid plans by the House Ethics Committee to release a report on him. The 42-year-old blasted the “Biden/Garland DOJ” for spending “years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.”

READ MORE: Matt Gaetz report released by House Ethics Committee after secret vote: Source

“I wasn’t charged with anything: Completely acquitted. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people who investigated me hated me,” Gaetz said. “Then the very ‘witnesses’ that the DOJ deemed unreliable were brought together by House Ethics to repeat their allegations without any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I have not had the opportunity to ever confront any prosecutors. I have never been charged. I’ve never been sued,” he added.

Gaetz went on to criticize House Ethics for its plans to “put a report online that I have no opportunity to discuss or refute as a former member of the body.” While admitting to “frequently sending money to women I dated,” the former Florida representative denied having “sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18.” “Any claim I have would be destroyed in court – and that’s why no such claim was ever made in court,” he declared.

Reflecting on his past, Gaetz admitted that “my 30s were an era of working very hard—and playing hard, too.” “It is embarrassing, but not criminal, that I probably partied, womanised, drank and smoked more than I should have done earlier in life. I’m living a different life now,” he continued, before ending with: “But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s, the f**k over the country!”