Trump's initial choice for attorney general allegedly paid minor for sex, according to report
A Congressional ethics report alleges that former Congressman Matt Gaetz was involved in drug use and made payments for sexual activities with a minor. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The US House Ethics Committee has stated that Matt Gaetz engaged in illegal drug use and paid substantial amounts for sexual favors, reportedly including a 17-year-old.
According to a report from the House Ethics Committee, there is “substantial evidence” that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be attorney general, paid for sex with a minor. The report also accuses him of various serious violations of state law and congressional standards.
Trump selected Gaetz for the position in mid-November, shortly after his presidential election victory. However, Gaetz later withdrew his name from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
While the Justice Department concluded its investigation into sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz without filing charges, the House Ethics Committee has continued its investigation, which began in 2021.
In a report released on Monday, the committee claimed to have found “substantial evidence” that Gaetz “regularly paid” women for sexual encounters from 2017 to 2020, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, the report asserted that Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, which would constitute statutory rape under Florida law given that Gaetz was 35 at that time. Between 2017 and 2019, Gaetz allegedly “used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy,” on several occasions.
The report cited further violations by Gaetz, including the acceptance of unauthorized gifts, special favors, and the misuse of campaign funds. The committee also accused him of attempting to obstruct the investigation by withholding evidence and providing misleading responses to inquiries.
In a last-ditch effort to prevent the report's release, Gaetz's lawyers filed a civil complaint against the committee and its chairman, Congressman Michael Guest, earlier on Monday. The lawsuit alleged that Gaetz had not been informed about the committee's intention to publish the report or given access to the materials beforehand, seen as a violation of House rules. It also contended that the committee “lacked jurisdiction” to pursue the investigation after Gaetz resigned from Congress upon his appointment by Trump.
The complaint sought a temporary restraining order to block the report’s release, but processing was delayed due to paperwork errors that Gaetz’s lawyers did not resolve in time.
Gaetz has voiced his outrage over the report on X, calling it defamatory and disputing its findings through numerous posts. He has maintained that while he did provide money to women he dated, he has “NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18” or used illegal drugs.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
According to a report from the House Ethics Committee, there is “substantial evidence” that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, who was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be attorney general, paid for sex with a minor. The report also accuses him of various serious violations of state law and congressional standards.
Trump selected Gaetz for the position in mid-November, shortly after his presidential election victory. However, Gaetz later withdrew his name from consideration amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
While the Justice Department concluded its investigation into sex trafficking allegations against Gaetz without filing charges, the House Ethics Committee has continued its investigation, which began in 2021.
In a report released on Monday, the committee claimed to have found “substantial evidence” that Gaetz “regularly paid” women for sexual encounters from 2017 to 2020, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars. Additionally, the report asserted that Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, which would constitute statutory rape under Florida law given that Gaetz was 35 at that time. Between 2017 and 2019, Gaetz allegedly “used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy,” on several occasions.
The report cited further violations by Gaetz, including the acceptance of unauthorized gifts, special favors, and the misuse of campaign funds. The committee also accused him of attempting to obstruct the investigation by withholding evidence and providing misleading responses to inquiries.
In a last-ditch effort to prevent the report's release, Gaetz's lawyers filed a civil complaint against the committee and its chairman, Congressman Michael Guest, earlier on Monday. The lawsuit alleged that Gaetz had not been informed about the committee's intention to publish the report or given access to the materials beforehand, seen as a violation of House rules. It also contended that the committee “lacked jurisdiction” to pursue the investigation after Gaetz resigned from Congress upon his appointment by Trump.
The complaint sought a temporary restraining order to block the report’s release, but processing was delayed due to paperwork errors that Gaetz’s lawyers did not resolve in time.
Gaetz has voiced his outrage over the report on X, calling it defamatory and disputing its findings through numerous posts. He has maintained that while he did provide money to women he dated, he has “NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18” or used illegal drugs.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
