Donald Trump comes to Matt Gaetz’s defense, ethics report says ‘very unfair’

What’s new

Matt Gaetz shared a memo he said he received from President-elect Donald Trump, describing a House Ethics Committee report on allegations of misconduct against him as “very unfair.”

The former House Republican posted a photograph of the note, written on an article about the report by conservative-leaning outlet The Federaliston X on Monday. Gaetz added: “I got a good note from President Trump.”

When contacted by Newsweek, Trump transition team spokesman Steven Cheung said, “Merry Christmas, James,” without further comment. Newsweek contacted Matt Gaetz Tuesday outside regular business hours via email.

Why it matters

The House Ethics Committee on Monday released its long-awaited report into Gaetz, which concluded there was “substantial evidence” that the Florida Republican had violated House rules regarding “prostitution, statutory rape, illegal use of drugs, illegal gifts, special favors or privileges , and blocking Congress.”

Gaetz disputed the report’s findings in a series of social media posts.

Trump had nominated Gaetz to be the next attorney general, overseeing the same Justice Department that launched an investigation into him, though the Florida Republican later withdrew from consideration after a public backlash. The memo suggests Trump continues to stand by Gaetz, who was re-elected to another term in the House in November but resigned from Congress after receiving the attorney general’s nomination.

What to know

The ethics committee report concluded there was “substantial evidence” that Gaetz broke a number of house rules, including paying a 17-year-old girl for intercourse in 2017, which counts as statutory rape under Florida law.

Gaetz had been the subject of a Justice Department investigation alleged sex trafficking about the 17-year-old girl, even though he was not charged with any crimes. In 2021, Joel Greenberg, a former Gaetz employee, pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including sex trafficking with a minor, fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

In a series of X posts, Gaetz denied any wrongdoing and claimed that some of the funds the report linked to prostitution were actually gifts to a woman he dated.

He said: “Giving money to someone you’re dating – who they didn’t ask for – and who isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!? There’s a reason they did that to me on Christmas Eve – Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.”

Trump’s memo to Gaetz was written on what appeared to be a printed copy of an article The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway, titled: “House Probe Into Matt Gaetz Relies On Witness DOJ Found Manlacked Credibility.” It claimed the ethics committee’s report was based on “two key witnesses” with “serious credibility problems.”

The report was due to be released shortly after Gaetz resigned from the House in November after being nominated for the role of attorney general. Gaetz took legal action to block the publication, arguing that it should not take place since he was no longer a member of Congress.

What people say

In a post on X, Yale review Editor James Surowiecki said, “I’m a little confused by Matt Gaetz’s continued insistence that just sending money to women you casually date is normal.”

Attorney Tristan Snell wrote: “Sex trafficking, sex trafficking of a minor, statutory rape, cocaine/ecstasy use, bribery, abuse of office, obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors knew ALL of this about Matt Gaetz. And yet they didn’t charge him with anything – they let him go.”

House Republican Andy Biggs wrote: “The Matt Gaetz investigation relies on testimony even Biden’s corrupt DOJ found not to be credible.

“But Swamp still continued to waste time and money with this smear campaign. Where is Epstein’s client list?”

Heath Mayo, a lawyer and self-proclaimed conservative Christian, wrote: “Summary of the Matt Gaetz ethics report. This is what happens when you have no moral standards for those you elect. You get utter garbage going around Congress hall who abuse their offices to have sex with little girls, thank you MAGA.”

What happens next

Trump’s memo suggests the president-elect believes Gaetz is both innocent and tough, raising the prospect of him being offered another job by the incoming administration.

Gaetz has indicated he might be interested in the Florida Senate seat left vacant by Marco Rubio, although the ethics committee report would almost certainly be used against him in any election campaign.