Read the House Ethics Committee’s full report

On By Littum

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WASHINGTON − The House Ethics Committee released a damning report Monday that claims there is “substantial evidence” that former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., engaged in “prostitution, statutory rape and (and) illegal drug use.”

“The record overwhelmingly indicates that Representative Gaetz had sex with multiple women” at a party in Florida in 2017, “including the then 17-year-old for whom they were paid,” the report said.

Gaetz attacked the report in a series of posts on X, writing: “Giving money to someone you’re dating – who they didn’t ask for – and who isn’t ‘charged’ for sex, is now prostitution?!?” He has long denied having sex with any minors.

Gaetz was President-elect Donald Trump’s first choice to serve as US attorney general in his next term. Gaetz withdrew his name last month as questions swirled about the ethics report.

More: Matt Gaetz ethics report finds ‘substantial evidence’ he engaged in statutory rape, prostitution

Read the House Ethics Committee report in Matt Gaetz

Strong claims

The ethics committee’s report claimed that:

  • From at least 2017 to 2020, Gaetz “regularly” paid women for sex.
  • From 2017 to 2019, Gaetz “used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on multiple occasions.”
  • Gaetz “accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permitted amounts.”
  • In 2018, Gaetz had his chief of staff help a sexual partner obtain a passport that “falsely indicated to the US State Department that she was a voter.”
  • Gaetz “knowingly and willfully sought to obstruct and obstruct the Committee’s investigation of his conduct.”

See more exhibits in the House Ethics Matt Gaetz probe