Two women testified to the House Ethics Committee that former Representative Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.), President-elect Trump’s attorney general nominee, paid them for “sexual favors,” their attorney told multiple news outlets Monday.
Florida-based attorney Joel Leppard said one of the women testified that she observed Gaetz having sex with her 17-year-old friend, who Gaetz did not know was underage until afterwards.
“She testified to the House that as she was walking out to the pool area, she turned to her right and she witnessed … her friend having sex with Representative Gaetz. And her friend at that time was 17,” Leppard told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
He made similar comments to ABC News and the Washington Post as the Ethics Committee decides whether to release its long-awaited report on the allegations against Gaetz. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have said they believe the report should be made available to determine if Gaetz should be confirmed as attorney general. Leppard and the attorney for the then-underage woman have both urged the committee to release the report.
The House Ethics Committee is expected to meet Wednesday to discuss the report and potentially vote on releasing it following Gaetz’s resignation. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) said last week he does not believe the committee should release the report because of the precedent of keeping matters private when a lawmaker is no longer in office.
Gaetz paid the two women for sex through Venmo and other channels, including the paypal of Gaetz’s adopted son Nestor, the Washington Post reported.
“That’s correct. The House was very clear about that and went through each. They essentially put the Venmo payments on the screen and asked about them. And my clients repeatedly testified, ‘What was this payment for?’ ‘That was for sex,'” Leppard told ABC News.
Once Gaetz found out the minor was underage, he stopped having sex with her and ended the relationship, Leppard said his client testified.
The two women also testified for the Justice Department’s investigation into the sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz. The Justice Department last year declined to prosecute Gaetz after a lengthy investigation. Gaetz has steadfastly denied allegations he had sex with a minor or paid for sex.
“Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him,” a spokesperson for Gaetz told CNN.
President-elect Donald Trump announced last week his intention to nominate Gaetz to be attorney general, immediately setting off a firestorm inside Washington because of the ethics investigation and Gaetz’s bitter personal relationships with Republican lawmakers.
Gaetz is a staunch ally of the incoming president and a MAGA favorite for his unwavering loyalty to Trump.
“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said.
The GOP-controlled Senate is responsible for voting on Gaetz’s confirmation, but Trump has floated the possibility of sidestepping the Senate’s constitutional authority and using recess appointments to confirm his most controversial cabinet picks. The uphill confirmation battle Gaetz is facing could test the level of power and influence Trump holds over Senate Republicans and soon-to-be majority leader John Thune (R., S.D.).