According to the US House of Representatives Committee on Ethics report, Former Representative Matt Gaetz has been alleged for engaging in sexual activity, using and possessing illegal drugs, and abuse of power among various other allegations.
The investigation started on Gaetz on April 9, 2021, has been completed. The report was published by the House of Representatives on December 23 providing a detailed explanation of all the charges.
After the announcement of President-elect Donald Trump’s intention on November 14 to nominate Representative Gaetz for the position of Attorney General, Gaetz resigned from the House revoking the authority of the Committee to continue the investigation.
Based on the Committee report evidences for following allegations has been found:
Paying women for engaging in sexual activity:
From the testimony of over half a dozen witnesses who attended parties, events, and trips with Representative Gaetz from 2017-2020 it has been found that Gaetz was involved in commercial sex. However, the payments were made either in cash or through intermediaries.
Engaged in sexual activity:
Evidence has been found that Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl in 2017 when he was 35 years old. The committee stated, “Representative Gaetz’s statutory rape of Victim A was a violation of Florida law, the Code of Official Conduct, and the Code of Ethics for Government Service”
Used or possessed illegal drugs
Evidence show that Representative Gaetz used cocaine, ecstasy, and Marijuana. With regards to the purchase of Marijuana, the committee stated, “he appears to have set up a pseudonymous e-mail account from his House office in the Capitol complex for the purpose of purchasing marijuana.”
Accepting gifts in excess of permissible limits
Representative Gaetz has received impermissible gifts including transportation and lodging during his travel to the Bahamas in September 2017. This is a violation of the Gift Rule.
Use of Special Privileges and Favors:
Privileges has been used by Representative Gaetz to assist a woman with whom he was engaged in a sexual relationship in obtaining an expedited passport. He falsely indicated that the woman was a constituent.
Obstruct the committee’s investigation
The committee stated that despite asserting the opportunity to address the allegations against him, Representative Gaetz declined to provide testimony voluntarily and did not appear when subpoenaed.
The committee, therefore, concluded its report with the remarks, “Based on the above, 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.”
