WASHINGTON, DC, USA — The House Ethics Committee has released a scathing report detailing evidence that former Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) engaged in conduct that violated federal and state laws, including paying for sex, statutory rape, illicit drug use, and improper acceptance of gifts.
The findings were made public Friday, December 20, 2024, after a secret vote by the GOP-led panel to release its investigation into the former congressman, who resigned last month.
“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 favours or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report stated.
Payments and Statutory Rape Allegations
The Ethics Committee’s probe uncovered transactions made by Gaetz via PayPal, Venmo, and other platforms to more than a dozen women, including a 17-year-old girl who alleged she had sex with Gaetz twice in 2017.
The report states that Gaetz paid the teenager $400, which she understood to be payment for sex.
“The Committee received testimony that Victim A and Representative Gaetz had sex twice during the party, including at least once in the presence of other party attendees,” the report said.
The then-17-year-old did not disclose her age to Gaetz, nor did he ask, according to the findings.
While the Committee found no evidence Gaetz was aware of her age, the incident constituted a violation of Florida’s statutory rape laws.
Bahamas Trip and Drug Use
The Committee also focused on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, during which Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with multiple women and used illegal drugs, including ecstasy, according to witness testimony.
One woman described the trip itself as “the payment” for sex.
“There is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz used cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana. At least two women saw Representative Gaetz using cocaine and ecstasy at different events,” the Committee reported.
The trip, which included two other men and six women, violated House gift rules, as Gaetz received transportation and lodging in excess of permissible amounts.
Role of Joel Greenberg
The investigation highlighted the role of Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector and close associate of Gaetz, in organising sexual encounters.
Greenberg, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and other charges, facilitated introductions to women via the website SeekingArrangement.com.
Text messages and financial records revealed Greenberg acted as an intermediary for Gaetz, arranging payments and meetings.
Ethics and Congressional Fallout
The Ethics Committee’s report is unusual in its publication after Gaetz’s resignation.
The decision to release the findings was contested by panel Chairman Michael Guest (R-Miss.), who argued that it could be perceived as politicised.
“The decision to publish a report after his resignation breaks from the Committee’s long-standing practice,” Guest wrote in a dissenting statement included in the report.
The release comes amid ongoing questions about Gaetz’s failed bid to serve as attorney general in the incoming Trump administration.
His nomination collapsed after opposition from Senate Republicans and the emergence of the Ethics Committee’s findings.
Gaetz Denies Wrongdoing
Gaetz has consistently denied allegations of paying for sex or engaging in sexual relations with minors.
In a statement on X last week, he wrote: “In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated—even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank, and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.”
He has also accused the Ethics Committee of weaponising its investigation against him, alleging partisan bias and improper leaks to the press.
Future in Media
Gaetz is set to join the right-wing One America News Network as an anchor in January, despite the fallout from the Ethics Committee’s findings.
His resignation from Congress and the explosive revelations have cast a shadow over his political career, marking a stark contrast to his once-prominent role as a Trump loyalist.
The Ethics Committee concluded its report with a stark assessment: “Representative Gaetz’s actions reflect a significant breach of the public trust, undermining the integrity of the House of Representatives.”
