House Ethics report accuses Matt Gaetz of crimes and violations, does not find 'sufficient evidence' of 'sex trafficking'

A House Ethics report on accusations surrounding Matt Gaetz found that there was not "sufficient evidence" for claims he was involved in "sex trafficking." The report alleges that the former lawmaker paid a 17-year-old for sex and that he committed other crimes, which he has repeatedly denied. 

The report investigated the accusation that Gaetz broke federal sex trafficking laws but did not find "sufficient evidence" for the claims. The Department of Justice has also investigated the claims but never charged him for the allegations.

The House Ethics Committee investigated other allegations against him, including an alleged sexual encounter with a 17-year-old girl, according to Politico. Gaetz hit back at the report, and told reporters "These claims would be destroyed in court — which is why they were never made in any court against me."



The report accused Gaetz of violating "House Rules, state and federal laws, and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, acceptance of impermissible gifts, the provision of special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress."

He posted ahead of the release of the Ethics report last week, "The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me."

"Then, the very 'witnesses' DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued." he added.

Gaetz resigned from Congress when he was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be the Attorney General in charge of his incoming Department of Justice. However, when some details of the ethics report were leaked, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration, and said that the confirmation process "was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition."

He added at the time, "There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General."

Gaetz has since floated a run for US Senate for the State of Florida. He has also joined OAN as an anchor since he resigned from his congressional seat.

House Ethics Report on Scribd