Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican who briefly ran as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee, was accused of paying numerous women for sex, including a 17-year-old girl. was found by Congressional Ethics Investigators. The suspect allegedly purchased and used illegal drugs, including from his Capitol Hill office, according to the final draft of a comprehensive investigative report obtained by CBS News.
These are some of the findings of a long-running investigation into Gaetz by the House Ethics Committee, which concluded that the former Florida congressman violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office. I attached it.
“The committee finds that there is substantial evidence that Congressman Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct that prohibit prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress. ” concludes the 37-page report.
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Gaetz resigned from Congress in November following Trump’s inauguration. announced plans To nominate him as Attorney General. But it faced opposition from some Republicans. Gates withdrew From the review after 1 week. of Publication of ethics reportMonday’s schedule will end, at least for now, Gaetz’s inflammatory tenure on Capitol Hill, where he became one of the most vocal and provocative members of Congress’ pro-Trump faction. Ta.
Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing and called the allegations a “smear” fabricated by political opponents. The committee said the lawmaker declined to appear under oath, but submitted written responses to some of the committee’s questions.
The report gives new voice to allegations of wrongdoing that have been circulating around Gates for years, despite Gates’ adamant denials. It is based on testimony from witnesses who told the commission they were paid for sex with Gaetz, text messages discussing the transactions, and Venmo and PayPal receipts.
Among the report’s most disturbing findings were allegations about parties and trips for sex and drugs in 2018. Travel to Bahamas Witnesses said he felt ecstasy and had sex with four women.
“From 2017 to 2020, Congressman Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women that the committee determined were likely connected to sexual activity or drug use,” the report said. , lists 12 types of payments totaling more than $90,000. woman.
The commission said it also heard testimony that Gaetz had sex twice at a party in 2017 with “Victim A,” then a 17-year-old who had just finished her senior year of high school.
“Victim A recalled receiving $400 in cash from Congressman Gaetz that night and understood it to be payment for sex,” the committee wrote. “Victim A stated that he did not tell Congressman Gaetz that he was under the age of 18 at the time, nor did he ask him his age.”
In a written response to the committee, Gates denied having sex with a minor. Ministry of Justice previously investigated Gates violated sex trafficking laws, but did not press charges. The commission found that Gaetz was sufficient to violate federal sex trafficking laws because he was transporting women across state lines for sexual purposes, all of whom were over the age of 18 at the time. He said no evidence was found.
The report said all of the women who testified said their sexual encounters with Gates were consensual, but one woman said drug use at parties and events she attended made it difficult for her to “actually know what was going on.” “This may have impaired his ability,” he told the committee. Or totally agree. ”
Another woman told the committee: “When I look back at certain moments, I feel violated.”
The report found “substantial evidence” that Gates was involved in a rampant illegal drug operation. The commission said it had obtained text messages in which he referred to drugs as “party favors,” “rolls” and “vitamins.” It also said he created a fake email from his Capitol office “for the purpose of purchasing marijuana.” The report noted that Gaetz denied using illegal drugs in written responses to the committee.
In addition to sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, the report accused Gaetz of accepting the gift of an unacceptably luxurious trip to the Bahamas in 2018. He also arranged for his chief of staff to help obtain a passport for a woman he had sex with and falsely reported to the State Department that she was a voter.
Gaetz told conservative personality Charlie Kirk last month that he intended to “fight for President Trump” over the next few years.
“I think eight years is probably enough for a term in the U.S. Congress,” Gaetz said, but last week he hinted in a post on X that he would return to the House speaker race.
The House Ethics Committee voted first In order to keep the report confidential, reverse course in a secret ballot earlier this month. Two Republicans on the committee were among those who voted in favor of lifting the deal, according to two sources familiar with the vote. The committee has 10 members, evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.
