ECNETNews, December 23, 2024: The House Ethics Committee has unveiled a bombshell report containing serious allegations of misconduct against former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz. The extensive 42-page document sheds light on a controversial trip to the Bahamas in 2018, accusing Gaetz of breaching House Rules and possibly engaging in criminal activities, including prostitution, statutory rape, and illicit drug use.
The report reveals troubling details about the September 2018 Bahamas excursion, during which Gaetz allegedly traveled with at least five young women, opting for a separate commercial flight while others took private jets. Accompanying Gaetz were GOP allies, further amplifying the scrutiny surrounding the trip.
According to the findings, Gaetz reportedly engaged in sexual encounters with multiple women during the trip while under the influence of drugs like cocaine, marijuana, and ecstasy. Testimony from a participant in the trip described it as a form of payment for sex, with the committee asserting that there is “ample evidence” of Gaetz using a pseudonymous email account linked to his House office for arranging marijuana purchases. The investigation indicates that Gaetz utilized illegal drugs on several occasions between 2017 and 2019 and accepted gifts of transportation and lodging beyond the allowed limits for congressional members during the Bahamas trip associated with his alleged illicit activities.
The committee’s report also includes allegations that Gaetz misused his congressional office to fast-track a passport for a woman with whom he had a sexual relationship, with his chief of staff falsely claiming the woman was a constituent.
In an attempt to prevent the report’s release, Gaetz filed a temporary restraining order on Monday, arguing that the committee lacked jurisdiction over him as a former member and alleging violations of due process. His legal team claimed that the committee’s intention to publicize the report was an unprecedented overreach.
Despite his efforts, the information was made public. Gaetz took to social media to vehemently deny the allegations of paying for sex or engaging in illegal activities, emphasizing that a previous Justice Department investigation on similar claims resulted in no charges. He asserted, “I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18,” insisting that any such allegations would not hold in court.
House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest confirmed the report’s findings, although he did not support the release. This investigation and its serious allegations mark a pivotal moment in Gaetz’s troubled political career, overshadowing his recent nomination for a key position which he later withdrew from amid increasing scrutiny.
