Official announcements from the Department of Justice or Florida state prosecutors

House Ethics Report: Matt Gaetz Paid $90,000 to 12 Women for Sex and Drugs, Committed Statutory Rape

Dec 24, 2024, 12:17 AM

The House Ethics Committee has released a report detailing allegations against former Representative Matt Gaetz, concluding that there is 'substantial evidence' he violated multiple House rules and state laws. The report states that Gaetz paid $90,000 to 12 women for sex or drugs on at least 20 occasions between 2017 and 2020, including a payment to a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, which constitutes statutory rape under Florida law. The committee also found evidence of Gaetz's use of illicit drugs like cocaine and ecstasy, and his obstruction of the congressional investigation into his conduct. Gaetz resigned from Congress last month after being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be attorney general, a position he later withdrew from due to opposition.