A long-awaited report on former Republican U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz is expected to be released Monday.
It follows an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sexual misconduct and illegal drug use by Gaetz, who was briefly considered for a top post in President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
A draft of the report viewed by the BBC’s US partner, CBS News The final version of the statement reportedly says there is “substantial evidence” that Gaetz violated state laws regarding sexual misconduct during his time in office.
Gaetz, 42, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said he was the victim of a smear campaign. He did not comment on the latest developments.
The 37-page draft, seen by CBS, states: “The Committee concluded that there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct that prohibit prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, prohibiting improper gifts, special favors or privileges.” and obstruction of Congress.”
From 2017 to 2020, Gaetz made payments totaling more than $90,000 (£72,000) to 12 different women “who the committee determined were likely related to sexual activity and/or drug use,” CBS quotes the draft.
The draft also reportedly includes testimony that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, giving her $400, “which she understood to be payment for sex.” Gaetz has denied having sex with a minor.
The Department of Justice (DoJ), which Trump originally intended Gaetz to lead, also investigated allegations that he had sex with a minor, but ultimately did not file criminal charges against him.
Gaetz represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives after coming to power in 2016 in the same election that gave his ally Trump his first entry into the White House.
He was named Trump’s Justice Department nominee last month. Gaetz immediately resigned from Congress and thus apparently evaded the access of the Ethics Committee.
However, a heated debate arose over whether the report should be published or not. Gaetz then withdrew his name from consideration for the Justice Department role, saying he hoped to avoid an “unnecessarily protracted battle in Washington.”
Gaetz’s proposed role as attorney general was among those that required confirmation from U.S. senators – which seemed increasingly unlikely.
The secret ethics commission had repeatedly investigated Gaetz since 2021 – not only because of the allegations about sex and drugs, but also because of allegations that he accepted bribes and misused campaign funds. In all cases, he vigorously denied any wrongdoing.
Previously, House Republicans blocked Democrats’ efforts to release the report’s findings, but two of them later voted for it, according to CBS.
When Gaetz responded to the news last week that the document would be released after all, he posted
He added: “Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I, as a former member of the panel, cannot discuss or refute.”
Gaetz also wrote: “It is embarrassing, although not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.”
