much later, The House Ethics Committee released an explosive report Regarding sexual misconduct allegations by former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), he broke multiple state laws and that he previously paid a minor for sex. Getz categorically denied the allegations and Filed a case on Monday In order to prevent publication of the report.
The review, which is the culmination of a year-long investigation, contains multiple allegations of wrongdoing, including that Gaetz paid thousands of women and in at least one instance a 17-year-old. for age, sex or drugs and that he has used illegal drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine. Although the ethics committee concluded that Getz did not violate federal sex-trafficking laws, it found that the lawmaker violated other state laws.
“The Committee concludes that there is substantial evidence that Representative Getz violated House rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibited by prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, acceptance of prohibited gifts, privileges and privations, and obstruction. Congress. ,” the report reads.
There was some question as to whether the report would be released, and significant portions of it were leaked before it was officially released. The Ethics Committee, a bipartisan panel that investigates wrongdoing by lawmakers, was initially deadlocked when they released their findings in the wake of Gaetz’s resignation from Congress. It’s unusual for the panel to share its findings after a member is no longer in Congress, though it’s not unheard of.
Gaetz abruptly resigned after being named attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump. After he withdrew from consideration for attorney general when it became clear he would not have enough Senate support, the ethics panel ultimately voted to release the report.
The report details the allegations against Getz and is the product of contact with more than two dozen witnesses and a review of 14,000 documents. Whether the report will have additional legal consequences or political ramifications for the bombastic former member of Congress is still an open question, however. Here’s what you need to know about the report and what might come next for Gaetz.
What does the report say?
The report centers on allegations that Getz paid women, and a teenage girl, for sex, his use of illegal drugs and receiving inappropriate gifts.
“Commercial sex”: The report alleges that Getz paid women for sex on numerous occasions between 2017 and 2020 and paid a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017.
During the investigation, which included multiple interviews with women who said they had sex with Getz, the ethics committee report said there were at least 20 instances when he paid women for sexual activity or drugs. They made such payments on platforms including PayPal, Venmo and CashApp, as well as through checks and cash. When given an opportunity to explain the payments he made, Getz did not provide any information to the committee.
Getz allegedly met many of these women through his friends Joel Greenberg, former Seminole County tax attorney who is now serving an 11-year sentence for multiple crimes, including sex trafficking of minors and wire fraud. Greenberg connects with women through a website called SeekingArrangement.com that aims to link older wealthy men and younger women. Broadly, the report states that the women expected to be paid for their interactions with Gatz and Greenberg, with the report citing a clear example when one woman noted: “I usually make $400 per meeting.”
One of the men Gaetz allegedly had sex with was 17 years old when they met in July 2017, the report noted. He allegedly had sex with her at a party that month; He did not reveal that she was under 18 nor did he ask her age. The committee concluded that she was not aware that the person was a minor, although the report also noted that “ignorance” of a minor’s age does not protect a criminal adult from being charged with statutory rape under Florida law.
Getz has repeatedly denied that he paid women for sex and denied that he had sex with a minor.
“In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated — even some I never dated but who asked,” Getz previously wrote in X. “I dated this woman for a few years. I have never had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18.”
The panel determined that Getz’s actions violated Florida state laws addressing commercial sex and statutory rape. It also did not find that Getz violated federal sex trafficking laws, claiming that he transported women across state lines for commercial sex, but there was no evidence that the individuals were under 18 or that they were “induced by force, deception, or coercion.”
Illegal drug use: Two women the committee spoke with also testified to Getz’s repeated involvement in illegal drug use, including ecstasy and cocaine, while additional evidence pointed to his regular use of marijuana.
Getz has denied allegations of illegal drug use.
The committee found that these actions violated Florida state law, which prohibits the recreational use of all three drugs.
Additional gifts: The panel alleged that Gaetz also accepted gifts above the $250 limit that members of Congress are supposed to abide by (but lawmakers, in practice, don’t always adhere to). This specifically includes a trip to the Bahamas in 2018, during which Gaetz allegedly received flights on a private plane as well as lodging.
Getz denied the allegations, but failed to provide the committee with evidence that he himself paid for the services.
The committee determined that his acceptance of these gifts constituted an ethical violation of House gift rules.
Congress obstruction: Gaetz did not voluntarily participate in an interview with the committee and did not respond to subpoenas he faced to testify. He provided some documents in response to the panel’s request, but little relevant information, according to the report.
Getz repeatedly cited the lack of charges brought against him by the DOJ investigation and argued that congressional investigations were targeted.
The committee said, however, that Gaetz was required by federal law to cooperate with the congressional investigation, regardless of what the DOJ decided about its investigation, or how he felt about the House investigation. Failure to answer the committee’s questions and not respond to its subpoenas constituted “obstruction of Congress,” according to the report.
Why is the report of the Ethics Committee coming out now?
The ethics committee first opened its investigation into Gaetz in 2021, but put it on hold after the Justice Department launched its own investigation later that year. It began its review once more in 2023 after the DOJ investigation concluded The department has not released any details about its findings or why it declined to continue its investigation, however The New York Times reported this news Federal prosecutors were unsure of their ability to make a case that Getz broke federal law.
The panel was scheduled to release its findings in mid-November, just as Trump announced Gaetz as his AG pick. Gaetz quickly resigned from Congress after that announcement, a surprising move because members of Congress who are typically nominated do not quit their jobs before being confirmed.
Questions have been raised about whether the Gaetz exit committee will still release the report, with some Republicans arguing that it was no longer within its “jurisdiction” since the conservative was no longer a lawmaker. While Getz was still under consideration for AG, the committee was deadlocked over releasing the report. After he stepped down from the role, a majority — including at least one Republican member — voted to release the report on Dec. 10.
“The committee generally did not publish its findings after losing jurisdiction over a matter,” the report said. “However, there are some prior instances where the committee has determined that it was in the public interest to release its findings even after a member’s resignation from Congress.”
Is the Ethics Committee’s investigation connected to the DOJ’s investigation?
The two investigations are not connected in any legal way, although the ethics committee noted in its report that it tried to use some of the DOJ’s work in the investigation. DOJ pushed back on that effort and, according to the committee, DOJ failed to comply with a subpoena and FOIA request for information.
“The committee looks forward to engaging with DOJ on the broader issues raised by its failure to recognize the committee’s unique mandate,” the report said.
The committee had hoped to work with the DOJ in part because the two investigations covered many of the same allegations, primarily that Getz regularly paid women for sex, had sex with a minor and transported women across state lines for commercial sex. .
The DOJ investigation, which began in 2020 under Trump’s previous term, was more limited in scope than the ethics investigation. That’s because the DOJ is looking for evidence that a federal crime was committed, while the ethics panel — “upholding the integrity of our government institutions” — is concerned. That is, a law can be considered immoral without being a federal crime.
Again, the DOJ’s investigation resulted in no federal charges against Getz and is no longer open.
Are there any legal repercussions for ethics reports?
Although the federal government is no longer investigating Gaetz, the ethics report highlighted various actions taken by Gaetz that lawmakers claim are state crimes. And that could lead to more legal complications for Gatz, Donald Sherman, executive director and chief counsel of the legal advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told Vox.
“Obviously, the committee no longer has jurisdiction over Mr. Getz, but … I would venture to assume that there is some conduct that he engaged in that should be investigated by local law enforcement,” depending on state law limitations, and local willingness to initiate an investigation. , Sherman said.
The ethics report found that Getz violated Florida state law by having sex with a 17-year-old, paying for sex and using illegal drugs. Florida law enforcement officials have not yet announced any investigation into Gaetz related to the allegations. The DOJ also no Indicate it wants to review the matter againAnd since Gaetz is a Trump ally who was once in line to lead that department, it seems unlikely that Trump’s DOJ will reopen the case against Gaetz.
