Matt Gaetz Lawsuit Dismissed, Ethics Report Released

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) filed a last-minute lawsuit to block the release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing allegations of his misconduct, including paying a 17-year-old for sex and using illegal drugs. The lawsuit was rendered moot when the committee released the report, which found substantial evidence of Gaetz's inappropriate conduct from 2017 to 2020, including drug use and efforts to obstruct the investigation. Gaetz argued that the committee lacked jurisdiction over him following his resignation and claimed the report could harm his reputation due to its unfounded conclusions. The Ethics Committee, however, stated that releasing the report served the public interest despite acknowledging it typically does not release findings after losing jurisdiction. Gaetz has consistently denied any wrongdoing and labeled the investigation as politically motivated. The report's findings conclude that while there was evidence of misconduct, the committee did not find sufficient proof of sex trafficking.