Matt Gaetz denies statutory rape allegations and claims they were relationships
- Investigations into Matt Gaetz began in 2021 amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use
- The House Ethics Committee gathered significant evidence and conducted numerous interviews during their investigation
- The report from the Ethics Committee is set to release findings that point to substantial evidence against Gaetz, raising concerns about ethics in Congress.
In December 2024, the House Ethics Committee prepared to release a report about former Representative Matt Gaetz's conduct following a multi-year investigation. Initiated in 2021, the investigation focused on various allegations including sexual misconduct, illicit drug use, and misuse of campaign funds. The committee gathered extensive evidence through interviews with over a dozen witnesses, 25 subpoenas, and numerous documents, concluding that Gaetz violated multiple House rules and standards of conduct. Notably, the report included claims of Gaetz engaging in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl, identified as 'Victim A', during an event where she was allegedly under the influence of drugs. The draft report stated that while Gaetz denied the allegations, substantial evidence pointed toward his violations of conduct including accepting gifts that went against House rules and obstructing congressional investigations. The committee deemed it necessary to publicize their findings to uphold transparency despite Gaetz's resignation, which was motivated by prior allegations surfacing and the halted Justice Department investigation that ultimately did not result in legal charges against him.