Ethics report claims Gaetz gave money to 17-year-old for sex
Investigators indicated that the Florida Republican engaged in solicitation of prostitutes, utilized illegal drugs, accepted inappropriate gifts, and attempted to obstruct their investigation.
TroibNews 
A yearslong investigation by the House Ethics Committee into former Rep. Matt Gaetz has concluded that there is “substantial evidence” indicating the Florida Republican engaged in statutory rape, solicited prostitutes, and used illegal drugs, as detailed in a report acquired by PMG.
The report includes a significant allegation that Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in July 2017, which he has consistently denied. At the time, he was 35 years old and serving in Congress. Investigators noted that he later paid the girl, aligning with a pattern described in the report of him compensating women following sexual encounters.
Gaetz has firmly insisted that he did not violate any laws, stating, “These claims would be destroyed in court — which is why they were never made in any court against me," during an interview with PMG on Friday.
The committee's 37-page report, released following a secret vote earlier this month, outlines multiple instances of misconduct attributed to Gaetz, who was once considered by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of attorney general. Following the emergence of this investigation, Gaetz stepped back from consideration for the AG role last month.
“The Committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated 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,” the ethics panel stated, adding that he “knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct” the inquiry.
These findings could greatly impact Republican dynamics, particularly due to Gaetz's close association with Trump. Gaetz, who resigned his congressional position when Trump nominated him for the Justice Department, has been suggested as a candidate for Florida governor in 2026, and some GOP members feel he might still secure an appointment in a second Trump administration. Gaetz has also expressed interest in running for Sen. Marco Rubio’s likely soon-to-be-vacant seat. However, the report's conclusions could complicate Gaetz's political ambitions, though Trump has a history of downplaying criminal allegations against his allies.
The Ethics Committee did not find "sufficient evidence" to support claims of federal sex trafficking violations against Gaetz, which were also examined by the Justice Department, which ultimately chose not to charge him.
Reflecting on his past, Gaetz has commented on his former heavy partying and treatment of women, asserting that he has since changed. He has categorically denied the accusation of engaging in sexual activity with anyone under 18, responding with “unequivocally no.”
The Ethics Committee's investigation revealed further allegations of Gaetz's misconduct, including the acceptance of excessive gifts related to a 2018 trip to the Bahamas. The report details how he violated ethics rules by assisting “a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport,” misrepresenting her as a constituent to the U.S. Department of State in 2018.
The decision to release the findings was contentious within the House, as it required a majority vote from the evenly split committee of Republicans and Democrats. Some members, including Speaker Mike Johnson, argued against deviating from standard practice, which typically involves concluding an inquiry once a member resigns. Ultimately, the majority concluded it was “in the public interest to release its findings.”
The report indicates at least one Republican on the committee sided with Democrats in the secret vote. Gaetz, known for his contentious actions, including the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has generated numerous adversaries in Congress. He has attributed the Ethics probe, initiated in April 2021, to McCarthy, though Gaetz contests that this was the motivation for his effort to remove him. McCarthy has maintained he had no influence over the investigation.
In an account from the report, at a party in July 2017, Gaetz allegedly had sex twice with a 17-year-old girl, described as “Victim A.” The report explains that Florida’s age of consent is 18. Victim A testified that she engaged in sexual relations with Gaetz "at least once in the presence of other party attendees" and received $400 from him, which she interpreted as payment for sex. She also indicated that she had taken ecstasy before the encounter and witnessed Gaetz using cocaine that night.
While investigators found that Gaetz did not realize Victim A was underage until more than a month after their initial sexual encounters, they emphasized that “statutory rape is a strict liability crime,” meaning his awareness of her age does not affect the legality of his actions. Even after learning of her age, Gaetz allegedly maintained contact with her and met again for sex less than six months after she turned 18, according to the report.
The committee gathered testimonies from both Victim A and “multiple individuals corroborating the allegation,” including some who testified under oath. The report noted that while Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, he has not provided specific answers about his interactions with Victim A.
The panel remarked that although the statute of limitations for state charges has expired, it does not hinder their findings.
Regarding prostitution claims, Gaetz reportedly bragged about sleeping with several women at the same party where he allegedly had sex with the 17-year-old. Evidence indicated that he frequently paid women after sexual encounters, a practice reinforced by testimonies from individuals associated with him.
The committee received statements from several women who recounted their experiences at parties with Gaetz from 2017 to 2020, noting that many were compensated for sexual activities, sometimes facilitated by Gaetz’s associate Joel Greenberg. Some women reported witnessing Gaetz taking drugs at these events as well.
One woman revealed she received financial help from Gaetz for her tuition, which involved an encounter that she interpreted as coercive due to her financial need, stating she felt “violated” by the experience.
While all women who testified described their encounters with Gaetz as consensual, the committee highlighted an “exploitative power imbalance,” asserting that he leveraged the economic vulnerability of young women to engage them in sexual acts for payments averaging several hundred dollars.
The Ethics Committee also found evidence of Gaetz making payments to the women involved through various electronic methods, checks, and cash, totaling over $90,000 to 12 women between 2017 and 2020, excluding payments made to Greenberg. In one noted instance, a woman introduced to Gaetz by Greenberg later became his girlfriend and received over $60,000 from Gaetz, complicating the nature of their relationship under investigation.
The trip to the Bahamas raised further scrutiny, tied to allegations of human trafficking that the Justice Department investigated. Although the Ethics Committee did not corroborate these specific claims, they uncovered other violations concerning Gaetz's failure to provide documentation for covering expenses related to the trip, as accepting such gifts would infringe on House rules.
The report characterized Gaetz’s conduct as uncooperative and concluded that his efforts to mislead the investigation raised potential concerns of federal criminal laws related to false statements and obstruction of Congress.
The investigation’s timeline was aggravated by delays stemming from the Justice Department's initial request for the Ethics Committee to pause its work, and after concluding their investigation without charges, the DOJ did not comply with subsequent requests for information.
Ultimately, the committee decided that despite the typical practice of not releasing findings after a member's exit from Congress, it was “in the public interest to release its findings,” having done so thoughtfully.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
The report includes a significant allegation that Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in July 2017, which he has consistently denied. At the time, he was 35 years old and serving in Congress. Investigators noted that he later paid the girl, aligning with a pattern described in the report of him compensating women following sexual encounters.
Gaetz has firmly insisted that he did not violate any laws, stating, “These claims would be destroyed in court — which is why they were never made in any court against me," during an interview with PMG on Friday.
The committee's 37-page report, released following a secret vote earlier this month, outlines multiple instances of misconduct attributed to Gaetz, who was once considered by President-elect Donald Trump for the position of attorney general. Following the emergence of this investigation, Gaetz stepped back from consideration for the AG role last month.
“The Committee concluded there was substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated 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,” the ethics panel stated, adding that he “knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct” the inquiry.
These findings could greatly impact Republican dynamics, particularly due to Gaetz's close association with Trump. Gaetz, who resigned his congressional position when Trump nominated him for the Justice Department, has been suggested as a candidate for Florida governor in 2026, and some GOP members feel he might still secure an appointment in a second Trump administration. Gaetz has also expressed interest in running for Sen. Marco Rubio’s likely soon-to-be-vacant seat. However, the report's conclusions could complicate Gaetz's political ambitions, though Trump has a history of downplaying criminal allegations against his allies.
The Ethics Committee did not find "sufficient evidence" to support claims of federal sex trafficking violations against Gaetz, which were also examined by the Justice Department, which ultimately chose not to charge him.
Reflecting on his past, Gaetz has commented on his former heavy partying and treatment of women, asserting that he has since changed. He has categorically denied the accusation of engaging in sexual activity with anyone under 18, responding with “unequivocally no.”
The Ethics Committee's investigation revealed further allegations of Gaetz's misconduct, including the acceptance of excessive gifts related to a 2018 trip to the Bahamas. The report details how he violated ethics rules by assisting “a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport,” misrepresenting her as a constituent to the U.S. Department of State in 2018.
The decision to release the findings was contentious within the House, as it required a majority vote from the evenly split committee of Republicans and Democrats. Some members, including Speaker Mike Johnson, argued against deviating from standard practice, which typically involves concluding an inquiry once a member resigns. Ultimately, the majority concluded it was “in the public interest to release its findings.”
The report indicates at least one Republican on the committee sided with Democrats in the secret vote. Gaetz, known for his contentious actions, including the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, has generated numerous adversaries in Congress. He has attributed the Ethics probe, initiated in April 2021, to McCarthy, though Gaetz contests that this was the motivation for his effort to remove him. McCarthy has maintained he had no influence over the investigation.
In an account from the report, at a party in July 2017, Gaetz allegedly had sex twice with a 17-year-old girl, described as “Victim A.” The report explains that Florida’s age of consent is 18. Victim A testified that she engaged in sexual relations with Gaetz "at least once in the presence of other party attendees" and received $400 from him, which she interpreted as payment for sex. She also indicated that she had taken ecstasy before the encounter and witnessed Gaetz using cocaine that night.
While investigators found that Gaetz did not realize Victim A was underage until more than a month after their initial sexual encounters, they emphasized that “statutory rape is a strict liability crime,” meaning his awareness of her age does not affect the legality of his actions. Even after learning of her age, Gaetz allegedly maintained contact with her and met again for sex less than six months after she turned 18, according to the report.
The committee gathered testimonies from both Victim A and “multiple individuals corroborating the allegation,” including some who testified under oath. The report noted that while Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing, he has not provided specific answers about his interactions with Victim A.
The panel remarked that although the statute of limitations for state charges has expired, it does not hinder their findings.
Regarding prostitution claims, Gaetz reportedly bragged about sleeping with several women at the same party where he allegedly had sex with the 17-year-old. Evidence indicated that he frequently paid women after sexual encounters, a practice reinforced by testimonies from individuals associated with him.
The committee received statements from several women who recounted their experiences at parties with Gaetz from 2017 to 2020, noting that many were compensated for sexual activities, sometimes facilitated by Gaetz’s associate Joel Greenberg. Some women reported witnessing Gaetz taking drugs at these events as well.
One woman revealed she received financial help from Gaetz for her tuition, which involved an encounter that she interpreted as coercive due to her financial need, stating she felt “violated” by the experience.
While all women who testified described their encounters with Gaetz as consensual, the committee highlighted an “exploitative power imbalance,” asserting that he leveraged the economic vulnerability of young women to engage them in sexual acts for payments averaging several hundred dollars.
The Ethics Committee also found evidence of Gaetz making payments to the women involved through various electronic methods, checks, and cash, totaling over $90,000 to 12 women between 2017 and 2020, excluding payments made to Greenberg. In one noted instance, a woman introduced to Gaetz by Greenberg later became his girlfriend and received over $60,000 from Gaetz, complicating the nature of their relationship under investigation.
The trip to the Bahamas raised further scrutiny, tied to allegations of human trafficking that the Justice Department investigated. Although the Ethics Committee did not corroborate these specific claims, they uncovered other violations concerning Gaetz's failure to provide documentation for covering expenses related to the trip, as accepting such gifts would infringe on House rules.
The report characterized Gaetz’s conduct as uncooperative and concluded that his efforts to mislead the investigation raised potential concerns of federal criminal laws related to false statements and obstruction of Congress.
The investigation’s timeline was aggravated by delays stemming from the Justice Department's initial request for the Ethics Committee to pause its work, and after concluding their investigation without charges, the DOJ did not comply with subsequent requests for information.
Ultimately, the committee decided that despite the typical practice of not releasing findings after a member's exit from Congress, it was “in the public interest to release its findings,” having done so thoughtfully.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
