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Matt Gaetz and Ginger Luckey Gaetz (Picture credit: X)
A scathing report from the House Ethics Committee has laid bare shocking allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz. The findings, published on December 23, 2024, reveal a pattern of alleged misconduct involving sexual activity, drug use, and
abuse of power
spanning several years. The report is based on testimony, financial records, and communications gathered during the investigation, which concluded despite Gaetz's
resignation from Congress
.
Key Allegations Unveiled
1. Payments for Sexual Activity, Including with a Minor
The report alleges Gaetz paid women for sex from 2017 to 2020, including a 17-year-old girl in 2017. These payments were often made through apps like Venmo, with innocuous descriptions masking their purpose.
From at least 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him. In 2017, Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl.
The Matt Gaetz Report
Payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars were flagged as likely connected to sexual activities, with some witnesses describing the transactions as routine arrangements.
2. Drug Use During Encounters
The report details that Gaetz frequently used illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, during his interactions with women. Witnesses described instances where drugs were either brought by participants or supplied at Gaetz's request.
Text messages obtained by the Committee show that Representative Gaetz would also ask women to bring drugs to their rendezvous, in some instances requesting marijuana cartridges and repaying the women directly.
The Matt Gaetz Report
Drugs were also reportedly present during a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, where Gaetz and others engaged in similar behavior.
3. Misuse of Power for Personal Favours
Gaetz allegedly abused his congressional position to provide favors for individuals with whom he had personal relationships. This includes aiding a woman in obtaining a passport under false pretenses.
In 2018, Representative Gaetz arranged for his Chief of Staff to assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the US Department of State that she was a constituent.
The Matt Gaetz Report
This act raises concerns about the misuse of official resources for personal benefit.
4. Obstruction of Investigation
The Committee found Gaetz deliberately obstructed its investigation, refusing to provide testimony, ignoring subpoenas, and publicly mischaracterizing the inquiry.
Representative Gaetz knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct the Committee's investigation of his conduct.
The Matt Gaetz Report
Gaetz’s lack of cooperation and his public defiance delayed the investigation and complicated efforts to gather critical evidence.
5. Ethical Violations and Discredit to Congress
The report concludes Gaetz violated House rules, federal and state laws, and ethical standards, bringing significant discredit to Congress.
Representative Gaetz has acted in a manner that reflects discreditably upon the House, engaging in behavior that violated the principles of public trust.
The Matt Gaetz Report
While the Committee did not find sufficient evidence to pursue federal sex trafficking charges, the breadth of the allegations has cast a shadow over his legacy.
A Resignation Amid Scandal
Gaetz resigned from Congress on November 14, 2024, amid speculation over a potential appointment as Attorney General in the incoming administration. However, his withdrawal from consideration for the role following the report has left his political future in doubt.
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