Matt Gaetz: House Report Reveals Former Trump Attorney General Pick Paid for Sex with Women, Including a 17-Year-Old | US News

Matt Gaetz, who was briefly a nominee for US attorney general under Donald Trump, has been found to have paid women, including a 17-year-old girl, for sex and reportedly used drugs while serving in Congress, according to findings from a committee.

The House Ethics Committee’s report determined there was “substantial evidence” indicating that the former Florida congressman breached House rules, along with state and federal laws, by engaging in conduct that included prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, and obstructing Congress.

The committee also alleged that he accepted luxury travel gifts that exceeded permissible limits, including a trip to the Bahamas in 2018.

The House panel stated, “From 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz made tens of thousands of dollars in payments to women, likely connected to sexual activities and/or drug use.”

Gaetz, a Republican who denies any wrongdoing, attempted to gain a restraining order against the committee to stop the publication of its investigative report.

The filing claimed the committee was making an “unconstitutional” effort “to assert jurisdiction over a private citizen through the threatened release of an investigative report containing potentially defamatory allegations, in violation of the committee’s own guidelines.”

Last month, Trump supporter Gaetz withdrew his candidacy for the position of US attorney general—the highest legal position in the country.

Gaetz expressed that his nomination was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to Trump’s administration’s transition into the White House.

The Florida Republican had been scrutinized over past sex trafficking allegations that were investigated by the department he was selected by the president-elect to head.

Gaetz was re-elected to the House of Representatives in November but resigned following his nomination as attorney general by Trump.

The House report noted: “From at least 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz routinely paid women for engaging in sexual encounters with him.”

“In 2017, Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual conduct with a 17-year-old girl. Between 2017 and 2019, he used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on several occasions.”

‘Sexual encounter with 17-year-old girl’

The ethics panel received testimony indicating that Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl referred to as Victim A.

It detailed, “Victim A remembered receiving $400 in cash from Representative Gaetz that night, which she believed was payment for sex.

“Victim A stated she did not inform Representative Gaetz of her age, nor did he inquire about it.”

Gaetz had been investigated by the Justice Department for three years regarding sex trafficking claims, but no criminal charges ensued.

The ethics panel concluded that there was insufficient evidence to show Gaetz violated the federal sex trafficking statute.

All women who provided testimony affirmed that their sexual encounters with Gaetz were consensual.

‘I feel violated’

However, one woman informed the committee that drug use at the parties and events they attended may have “impair[ed their] ability to actually know what was happening or fully consent.”

Another woman shared with the committee: “When I reflect on certain moments, I feel violated.”