CNN is reporting that The House Ethics Committee released a damning report on former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, finding “substantial evidence” of misconduct during his time in Congress. The report detailed allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual relations with a 17-year-old girl in 2017, regularly paid women for sex, and used illegal drugs like cocaine and ecstasy between 2017 and 2019. It also revealed he accepted impermissible gifts, including a luxury trip to the Bahamas in 2018.
While the panel concluded that Gaetz violated multiple House Rules and state and federal laws, including statutory rape and illicit drug use, it did not find enough evidence to charge him with federal sex trafficking. The report accused Gaetz of acting in a manner that “reflects discreditably upon the House.”
Gaetz, who denied wrongdoing and claimed the report was politically motivated, resigned from Congress in November shortly after being selected by Donald Trump as U.S. Attorney General—a nomination he withdrew after intense criticism. The findings, based on extensive investigations including subpoenas and testimonies, highlight serious ethical breaches and could further erode confidence in Trump’s vetting process for key appointments.
