The newly released House Ethics Committee report on former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz alleges that he violated Florida state laws and paid multiple women, including one 17-year-old girl, for sex.
The 37-page report reads in part, "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 committee report also details a number of allegations regarding drug use. According to the allegations in the report, Gaetz allegedly sent texts to women asking them to bring drugs "to their rendezvous," and also had multiple code names for drugs.
A 17-year-old girl, who is named in the report only as "Victim A," alleges that Gaetz had sex with her at a party in 2017. She says she was under the influence of ecstasy at the time and saw Gaetz use cocaine. She also says Gaetz paid her $400.00, which she understood to be payment for sex.
Victim A also said that she never told Gaetz she was 17. The House Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction to investigate the matter after Gaetz's recent resignation from Congress. The U.S. Department of Justice has already headed a multi-year-long investigation, which recently ended with them declining to charge Gaetz with any crimes.