
The House Ethics Committee has released a report detailing evidence that former Congressman Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars for sex and drugs, including paying a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017. The committee found substantial evidence that Gaetz violated House Rules, Florida state laws, and standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution and statutory rape.
The investigation revealed that Gaetz used platforms like PayPal and Venmo to make payments to over a dozen women during his time in Congress. One incident involved a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, where Gaetz engaged in sexual activities with multiple women, including one who claimed the trip itself was “payment” for sex. On that trip, he reportedly used ecstasy.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the committee found no evidence Gaetz violated federal sex-trafficking laws, stating that while he transported women across state lines for commercial sex, there was insufficient evidence that any were minors or coerced.
Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he never had sexual contact with anyone under 18. He filed a lawsuit to block the report’s release, claiming he was not notified as required, but the report was published regardless.
The report also noted that many women interviewed confirmed they had been paid for sex by Gaetz or his associate, Joel Greenberg, who is currently in prison. Gaetz’s payments to women often came with an expectation of sexual encounters, with one woman stating that sex was involved “99 percent of the time” they hung out.
The findings are part of a broader scandal that could have lasting political implications for Gaetz, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump.