US House report finds Matt Gaetz paid thousands for sex and drugs, media reports say

Record ID: 1892676

  • Title: US House report finds Matt Gaetz paid thousands for sex and drugs, media reports say
  • Date: 23rd December 2024
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (DECEMBER 23, 2024) (REUTERS) U.S. HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE REPORT ON CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ BEING SET ON TABLE VARIOUS OF FIRST PAGES OF REPORT PAN OF PARAGRAPH DETAILING PAYMENTS TO WOMEN FOR SEX LINE IN REPORT ABOUT TRIP TO BAHAMAS
  • Embargoed: 6th January 2025 18:07
  • Keywords: Ethics Committee Florida Matt Gaetz drugs sex
  • Location: VARIOUS
  • City: VARIOUS
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001910123122024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The U.S. House Ethics Committee has found that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for drugs and sex, including with a 17-year-old girl, U.S. media reported on Monday (December 23), citing a final draft of the panel's report.
    Gaetz, who has denied wrongdoing, resigned from the House of Representatives last month after he was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to be attorney general. He withdrew from consideration in the face of an uphill confirmation battle in the Senate.
    In an bid to prevent the report's release, expected on Monday, Gaetz filed a lawsuit on Monday in federal court in Washington, DC, against the Ethics panel arguing that it no longer had jurisdiction after Gaetz resigned from Congress.
    "The Committee's position regarding its lack of authority over former members represents a clear, well-established policy rather than an isolated interpretation," Gaetz's lawyers wrote in a complaint.
    His lawyers sought an emergency order to temporarily block publication of the report, which they argued would contain "untruthful and defamatory information" about Gaetz.
    Reuters was not immediately able to reach Gaetz for comment.
    The report found that Gaetz paid more than $90,000 to 12 different women, payments the Ethics panel determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and drug use, CBS News reported. CNN reported similar details of the draft report. Both outlets said his actions violated Florida state laws.
    The panel's report found that Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct banning prostitution, statutory rape and drug use, CBS reported.
    It also found "substantial evidence" Gaetz engaged in illicit drug use, CBS reported. It accused him of accepting gifts of luxury travel in excess of permissible limits with a 2018 trip to The Bahamas, CBS added.
    (Production: Greg Savoy and Deborah Gembara)
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