Report on Matt Gaetz Misconduct Allegations Released by House Ethics Committee

The House Ethics Committee released its long-awaited report on Monday detailing allegations of misconduct against former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Although Gaetz has resigned from Congress, the Committee decided to release the report due to public interest and a majority vote by its members.

The Committee’s investigation uncovered “substantial evidence” of serious misconduct by Gaetz between 2017 and 2020, including:

• Paying for Sex: Gaetz regularly paid women for sexual activity, including a 17-year-old girl in 2017.

• Drug Use: The report claims Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2019.

• Excessive Gifts: Gaetz allegedly accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging during a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, exceeding permissible amounts.

• Falsified Passport Assistance: In 2018, Gaetz arranged for his Chief of Staff to assist a woman he was sexually involved with in obtaining a passport under false pretenses.

• Obstruction of Investigation: Gaetz knowingly sought to impede the Committee’s investigation, including failing to cooperate with subpoenas and providing misleading responses.

The report concluded that Gaetz “violated House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct,” encompassing statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, and obstruction of Congress.

While the Committee found substantial evidence of misconduct, it noted there was insufficient evidence to conclude that Gaetz violated federal sex trafficking laws. These charges had been the focus of a separate criminal investigation by federal prosecutors.

The Committee criticized Gaetz for his lack of cooperation during the investigation:

• He refused to appear for a subpoenaed interview.

• He ignored most direct questions about his misconduct in written responses.

• He publicly mischaracterized the investigation, further obstructing the process.

The release of this report sheds light on serious ethical and legal violations by a former member of Congress. It also highlights the challenges of holding public officials accountable for alleged misconduct, particularly when they actively obstruct investigations.

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