A U.S. House Ethics Committee report released Monday details “substantial evidence” of misconduct by former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s initial choice for Attorney General. The 42-page report, concluding a years-long investigation, alleges that Gaetz paid for sex, including with a minor, used illegal drugs, and attempted to obstruct investigators. Gaetz denies all allegations.
The report states that Gaetz “regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity,” used cocaine and ecstasy between 2017 and 2019, accepted gifts including a trip to the Bahamas in 2018, and lied to the Department of State to obtain a passport for a woman he was sexually involved with, falsely claiming she was a constituent. The report further criticizes Gaetz’s actions, stating, “Representative Gaetz took advantage of the economic vulnerability of young women to lure them into sexual activity for which they received an average of a few hundred dollars after each encounter. Such behavior is not ‘generosity to ex-girlfriends,’ and it does not reflect creditably upon the House.” The report notes these actions violated Florida prostitution and statutory rape laws. While Gaetz has not faced criminal charges, the committee cited substantial evidence supporting claims he engaged in sexual acts with a 17-year-old girl, referred to as “Victim A,” in July 2017. This evidence included testimony from Victim A and corroborating witnesses, some of whom testified before a federal grand jury and in civil litigation. Gaetz denied the allegations and refused to testify under oath, publicly stating that Victim A “doesn’t exist.”
Gaetz’s nomination for Attorney General in November was controversial, given a prior Department of Justice sex trafficking investigation that did not result in charges. He resigned from the House shortly after the nomination. Following criticism and increased scrutiny of the ongoing Ethics Committee probe (launched in April 2021), Gaetz withdrew his candidacy. He subsequently sued the committee, claiming the report’s release was unconstitutional due to a lack of jurisdiction over a private citizen. He also criticized the timing of the report’s release, suggesting it was strategically released to avoid a courtroom setting where he could challenge evidence and witnesses. Gaetz declined a voluntary interview with the committee.
The committee’s decision to release the report was itself contentious. After an initial November 20th vote to block release, the committee reversed course on December 10th. Committee Chair Michael Guest, a Mississippi Republican, publicly opposed the release, stating the committee lacked jurisdiction to release the report after Gaetz’s resignation from the House on November 14, 2024. While not disputing the committee’s findings, Guest criticized the deviation from established standards in releasing a report on a former member. The report was ultimately released on December 23, 2024.