ReutersFormer Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz spent tens of hundreds of {dollars} on intercourse and medicines whereas serving as a US congressman, in accordance with a long-awaited report from the Home of Representatives ethics committee.
It follows a years-long investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use by Gaetz, who President-elect Donald Trump wished to function the nation’s high lawman.
The committee additionally discovered proof that Gaetz, 42, obtained presents in extra of permissible quantities in connection to a 2018 journey to the Bahamas.
The previous lawmaker has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying he’s the sufferer of a smear marketing campaign. Amid the controversy, he withdrew from consideration to function US lawyer common.
The congressional ethics report discovered that “there may be substantial proof that Consultant Gaetz violated Home guidelines and different requirements of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible presents, particular favours or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”
From 2017 to 2020, Gaetz made funds totalling greater than $90,000 (£72,000) to 12 completely different girls “that the Committee decided had been doubtless in reference to sexual exercise and/or drug use”, the report discovered.
Moreover, the report comprises testimony that Gaetz paid for intercourse with a 17-year-old at a celebration in 2017, giving her $400 “which she understood to be fee for intercourse”. Gaetz has denied having intercourse with a minor.
The Division of Justice additionally investigated an allegation that he had intercourse with a minor however finally didn’t file any prison costs in opposition to him.
In a last-minute court docket submitting on Monday, Gaetz sought a short lived restraining order to forestall the report’s launch. He accused the ethics committee of making an attempt to train its jurisdiction over a non-public citizen.
The committee’s 42-page report accuses Gaetz of being “uncooperative” all through its evaluate, and that he would ceaselessly “deflect, deter, or mislead” the panel “in an effort to stop his actions from being uncovered”.
Regardless of a subpoena, he by no means appeared earlier than the committee to testify.
Gaetz represented Florida’s first congressional district within the US Home of Representatives, having come to energy in the identical election in 2016 that propelled his ally Trump to the White Home the primary time.
The previous Florida lawmaker was believed to be past the attain of the committee when he resigned from Congress final month, following his nomination by Trump to function US lawyer common – America’s high legislation enforcement official who heads the Division of Justice.
Gaetz dropped out simply eight days after being nominated by Trump. Trump then tapped former Florida lawyer common Pam Bondi as his nominee for lawyer common.
Trump has not but commented on the report’s findings.
Whereas it’s uncommon for the committee to launch its findings after a lawmaker leaves public workplace, the report famous {that a} “majority” of members discovered it was within the public-interest to take action on this occasion.
An intense debate had erupted over whether or not or not the report ought to be launched, significantly after Gaetz withdrew his identify from consideration for the highest justice division function.
He stated that he hoped to keep away from a “needlessly protracted Washington scuffle”.
Gaetz’s slated function as lawyer common was a type of that required the affirmation of US senators, and it didn’t appear that he had the required help.
The secretive ethics committee had investigated Gaetz on and off since 2021 – not solely on the claims about intercourse and medicines, but additionally on allegations he accepted bribes and misused marketing campaign funds. In all circumstances, he strongly denied any wrongdoing.
Home Republicans beforehand blocked Democratic efforts to unveil the outcomes of the report, however two of them later voted to take action, in accordance with CBS.
On Monday, Gaetz posted on that X that the committee selected to launch the report near Christmas “and never in a courtroom of any form the place I may current proof and problem witnesses”.
Final week, he posted that the ethics committee planed to “put up a report on-line that I’ve no alternative to debate or rebut as a former member of the physique.”
Gaetz additionally wrote: “It is embarrassing, although not prison, that I most likely partied, womanised, drank and smoked greater than I ought to have earlier in life. I dwell a unique life now.”
A number of Home Democrats criticised their former colleague and Trump for having chosen him as an ally.
Rep Glenn Ivey, one of many 5 Democrats on the ethics committee, stated the allegations in opposition to Gaetz present there is a sample by Trump of not “placing individuals in these positions who’re actually as much as doing the job”.
“President-elect Trump ought to have thought twice earlier than he nominated Matt Gaetz and a few of the different nominations he is made, I feel would bear reconsideration as nicely,” he instructed CBS Information, the BBC’s US accomplice.
