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In a bombshell report released by the House Ethics Committee, former Florida Congressman and current TV host Matt Gaetz is accused of paying a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017. The investigation uncovered tens of thousands of dollars in transactions Gaetz allegedly made to over a dozen women for sex and drugs during his tenure in Congress. These payments were often facilitated via PayPal and Venmo.
The report states Gaetz violated Florida’s statutory rape law and other state statutes, though no federal charges have been filed. Investigators detailed a 2018 Bahamas trip where Gaetz allegedly engaged in sexual activities with multiple women. Witnesses claim he also consumed illegal drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine, during the trip.
The investigation, paused in 2021 due to a federal probe, resumed earlier this year after the Justice Department declined to press charges. Despite this, the Ethics Committee found substantial evidence supporting the allegations. Their findings included text messages, financial records, and witness testimonies. One woman revealed she received $400 from Gaetz after their encounter when she was 17. She also testified to seeing him use cocaine at a party.
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress last month, denies all accusations.In a statement on social media, he claimed,
“I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18…I live a different life now. ”
His federal lawsuit to block the report’s release was dismissed after the document became public. The Ethics Committee’s decision to release the report marks a rare move against a former member of Congress. Gaetz is set to begin a new role as an anchor at One America News Network in January, a transition overshadowed by these explosive allegations.
