A long-awaited House Ethics Committee report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz determined there was “substantial evidence” the one-time lawmaker paid several women, including at least one minor, to have sex with him.
The report was leaked to CBS News last night after the panel secretly voted earlier this month to release it. The full report will reportedly be released on Monday.
Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump‘s onetime nominee for attorney general who resigned from Congress last month, was investigated for four years by the committee over allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor and use of illicit drugs.
“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 favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the 37-page report says, according to CBS.
Gaetz has previously denied any wrongdoing and was not charged in a separate Justice Department investigation. Shortly after it was reported that the Ethics Committee had voted to share the report, the former Florida congressman lashed out against the committee in a post on social media.
HOUSE PANEL VOTES TO RELEASE GAETZ REPORT IN SURPRISE REVERSAL
“I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me,” he said in a post to X on Dec. 18.
“Then, the very ‘witnesses’ DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys,” Gaetz continued. “I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued. Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.”
Gaetz went on to explain that he sent funds to some women he dated or was interested in but denied he ever had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18.
“Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court — which is why no such claim was ever made in court,” Gaetz said. “My 30s were an era of working very hard — and playing hard too. 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.”
The release of the ethics report marks one of the rare occasions the committee has chosen to publish the findings of a former member, and comes after it had been previously deadlocked along party lines over its release.
Gaetz resigned his congressional seat after being nominated for the position of attorney general, days before the House Ethics Committee was set to share its report originally, throwing the release of the investigation’s findings into uncertainty as the committee no longer had jurisdiction over him.
He later withdrew his name from consideration as attorney general in the face of opposition in the Senate.
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House Republicans shot down two separate attempts from Democrats to compel the committee to release its findings earlier this month when it was still uncertain whether the committee would do so itself.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told reporters he was going to “strongly request” that the Ethics Committee not issue its report as the committee debated its release.
Cami Mondeaux contributed to this report.