Government ethics advocates on Monday released a congressional investigation containing “substantial evidence” of former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of Trump’s former U.S. nominees, while in office. He expressed serious concerns about President-elect Donald Trump’s decisions and the transition process. Attorney General – committed statutory rape of a minor, purchased and used illegal drugs, and obstructed an investigation against him.
The bipartisan House Ethics Committee found that Gaetz “violated House rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors and privileges, and obstruction of Congress” while in office. There is substantial evidence that he did.” According to the committee’s 37-page report, the secretariat said:
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the incoming ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, told USA Today on Monday, “This is an extremely damning report for any member of Congress who wants to be seen as a member of Congress.” “This is a humiliating report for those who have done so.” Attorney General of the United States. ”
The report said Gates paid more than $90,000 for what the committee considered likely “sexual acts and illegal drug use,” including “a man who had just finished his senior year of high school.” The charges also included $400 for sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl. On July 15, 2017, at a party at the home of Christopher Dorworth, a former Republican state representative from Florida who was once named Congressman of the Year by Congress. Florida Council Against Sexual Assault. According to court filings seen by Rolling Stone, Mr. Dorworth repeatedly asked for party-related records to be destroyed.
The publication further states that the girl did not reveal her age to Gaetz, who was 35 at the time, and Gaetz did not ask her. The girl also “admitted to being under the influence of ecstasy” during the sexual encounter with Gates at the party and said she saw Gates “using cocaine” at the gathering. The commission found that Gaetz repeatedly used these and other illegal drugs.
The committee also found that Mr. Gates said:
In connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, he received gifts that exceeded the allowable amount, including transportation and lodging expenses, arranged for his chief of staff to assist in obtaining a passport for a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity, and made false statements to the United States. The State Department confirmed that she was a voter. knowingly and intentionally obstructed and attempted to obstruct the Commission’s investigation into his conduct; and acted in a manner that brought the House of Commons into disrepute.
The report says all of Gates’ sexual encounters were consensual, but “at least one woman said she was unsure of what was going on due to drug use at parties and events she attended. “Or we felt that his ability to know what was actually going on may have been impaired.” I completely agree. ”
“When I look back at certain moments, I feel violated,” one woman told the committee.
The investigation did not find that Gates violated federal sex trafficking laws. Because although Gates “caused the transport of women across state lines for the purpose of commercial sex acts, the commission found no evidence that the women were under 18 years of age at the time of the incidents.” It’s from the body. The Commission also did not find sufficient evidence to conclude that the commercial sex acts were caused by force, fraud, or coercion. ”
Gaetz, who filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking to block the release of the report because he is now a private citizen, has repeatedly denied having sex with minors.
“These claims will be thrown out in court. That’s why no claims were made against me in any court,” he said Monday ahead of the report’s release, announcing some of the findings late Sunday. spoke to The Hill after the news broke.
Gates resigned from Congress on November 13, shortly after President Trump released the report to his nominees for attorney general.
The Republican-led House Ethics Committee initially announced it would not release its report on Gaetz, but it faced widespread criticism. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) strongly opposed the release of the report, arguing that releasing it would set a “terrible precedent.”
The next day, Gaetz said he would not accept Trump’s nomination to head the U.S. Department of Justice. President Trump then selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to the top position at the Justice Department.
The report on Mr. Gates has renewed focus on Mr. Trump’s suitability for the presidency.
“Matt Gaetz is the person Donald Trump would choose to be Attorney General of the United States,” Robert Wiseman, co-director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said in a statement. “Mr. Trump and his transition team have ignored obvious red flags as they announce their cabinet and leadership nominees, and appear to have made fanatical loyalty to the president-elect their primary selection criteria. ”
“The Gaetz report emphasizes the importance of the Senate independently and proactively exercising its advisory and consent function,” Wiseman added.
Adam Cohen, vice president of Lawyers for Good Government, wrote on social media: “I don’t care if Mr. Gates was chosen as a strategic sacrificial lamb.”
“Mr. Trump now expects other candidates to pass safely,” he added. “We need to challenge them all.”
