US House Ethics Committee accuses Matt Gaetz of 'regularly' paying for sex, illicit use of drugs

The House Ethics Committee has accused former representative of Florida’s first congressional district, Matt Gaetz, of “regularly” paying women for sex, including once with an underage girl in a new report by the committee’s bipartisan panel.

The 37-page report includes explicit details alleging the former congressman participated in “sex-filled” parties and vacations from 2017 through to 2020 while the Republican was a member of Congress.

The findings concluded that Gaetz had violated multiple state level laws related to sexual misconduct during his time in office. The report contains dozens of pages of exhibits and evidence against Gaetz, including text messages, financial records, travel receipts and online payments.

The often secretive bipartisan panel has reportedly been investigating claims against the former Florida representative since 2021.

“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 said.

Gaetz denies any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence, stressing that he has never had sex with a minor.

The Republican slammed the committee’s findings adding that he was in a long-term committed relationship with one of the women the report indicates was paid in exchange for sexual services.

In addition to soliciting prostitution, the Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of accepting gifts including transportation and lodging in connection with a 20018 trip to the Bahamas that were exceeding the congressionally permitted amounts.

Last month, US President-elect Donald Trump picked Gaetz shortly after his victory in the 5 November presidential election to become the country’s top law enforcement officer, nominating him for attorney general.

Gaetz resigned from Congress that same day, putting him outside the purview of the committee’s jurisdiction, and withdrew his name from consideration to become attorney general. Gaetz said the controversy surrounding his name was becoming an unfair distraction to Trump’s incoming administration.

On Monday, Gaetz filed a last minute lawsuit in a last ditch effort to block the report’s release. His legal team slammed the US House Panel of attempting to orchestrate an unprecedented move, and stressed that the former congressman is no longer under their jurisdiction since his resignation.