House Ethics Committee Report on Matt Gaetz

The House Ethics Committee's report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz details substantial evidence of statutory rape, solicitation of prostitution, and illicit drug use during his time in Congress. The report claims that Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex and engaged in drug use at parties, including using cocaine and ecstasy. Despite Gaetz's denials and a prior Justice Department investigation that did not lead to charges, the committee's findings describe a pattern of behavior involving payments to multiple women for sex between 2017 and 2020. Gaetz attempted to block the report's release but was unsuccessful, as the bipartisan committee determined the findings warranted public disclosure. The allegations are further complicated by connections to former Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, who has cooperated with federal investigations after pleading guilty to sex trafficking a minor. The report's release has reignited discussions about ethical conduct among lawmakers and the implications for Gaetz's political future.