Gaetz Paid for Sex With Girl, 17, Used Drugs, Ethics Report Finds

The House Ethics Committee released an explosive report detailing its investigation of sexual-misconduct allegations against former Rep.

- KATY STECH FEREK

Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who abruptly resigned from Congress in November while under consideration for attorney general in the coming Trump administration.

The 37-page report, released on Monday, said Gaetz regularly paid for sex, including with a 17-year-old girl, from at least 2017, when he began serving in the House, until 2020. It found he accepted impermissible gifts, including lodging and transportation in 2018 during a trip to the Bahamas. Investigators also concluded that Gaetz "used or possessed" cocaine and ecstasy between 2017 and 2019.

The payments amounted to tens of thousands of dollars for sex and drugs, the report said.

Lawyers for Gaetz didn't respond to a request for comment.

The Ethics Committee, made up of five lawmakers from each party, took the rare step of agreeing to release the report despite Gaetz's departure from the chamber. Committee investigations typically end once a member leaves officials committee knowledged that it was uncommon to release a report on a former member, but said there are past examples involving cases related to the public's interest in which the panel released its findings anyway.

"The Committee does not do so lightly," the report said, adding: "Representative Gaetz has acted in a manner that reflects discreditably upon the House." Ahead of the committee making the report public, Gaetz on Monday asked a federal judge to block its release.

Gaetz, who has denied all wrongdoing, in his suit said making the report public would run afoul of the committee's internal rules to stop investigating House lawmakers once they leave Congress, violating his constitutional due-process rights.