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The House Ethics Committee has released it’s report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), despite his efforts to stop them. Now he is fighting back by posting screenshots of witness testimony, which appears to completely contradict the findings of the report.
From CNBC: The House Ethics Committee on Monday revealed it found “substantial evidence” that former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old girl in 2017, and that he “regularly” paid women for sex while he was in Congress.
The panel issued its conclusions in a final report on its yearslong investigation into allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
Hours before the long-awaited report came out, Gaetz asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order that would block its release.
The ethics panel’s report, the final product of an investigation that began in 2021, was at the center of a recent firestorm of controversy surrounding the former lawmaker from Florida.
Gaetz, 42, resigned from Congress in mid-November, shortly after President-elect Donald Trump picked him to be U.S. attorney general. Trump’s selection to lead the Department of Justice immediately drew howls from critics, who were quick to note that Gaetz if confirmed would be in charge of the agency that had previously investigated him on sex-trafficking allegations.
CNBC noted that the DOJ had ended their probe without filing any criminal charges against Gaetz, but the Ethics Committee resurrected its investigation in May 2023.
Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration as Attorney General, and Trump nominated former Florida AG Pam Bondi instead.
CLICK HERE to access the newly-released report against Gaetz by the Ethics Committee.
Gaetz is already fighting back. Gaetz had filed a lawsuit Monday in an effort to stop the Ethics Committee from releasing the report, noting it is defamatory.
Since the report has been released, he is blasting out screenshots from the DOJ investigation on social media, which he says proves he was NOT guilty of ‘prostitution.’
Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t “charged” for sex is now prostitution?!? There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.
This is testimony from one of the alleged “prostitutes” that you won’t see in the report!
Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t “charged” for sex is now prostitution?!?
There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge… pic.twitter.com/HzWODpBBB9
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 23, 2024
ANOTHER ONE of the ethics witnesses who was an alleged “prostitute” claims she was indeed NOT when actually pressed in a deposition. This won’t be in the “ethics” report because of course.
ANOTHER ONE of the ethics witnesses who was an alleged “prostitute” claims she was indeed NOT when actually pressed in a deposition.
This won’t be in the “ethics” report because of course. pic.twitter.com/SpZDPitbRp
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 23, 2024
This is the trafficking “victim” claiming under oath that this characterization is false.
This is the trafficking “victim” claiming under oath that this characterization is false. pic.twitter.com/fwRFBAcrWI
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 23, 2024
MORE TESTIMONY you won’t see in the “ethics” report. This is clearly not prostitution under any conceivable definition. Which is why I was never charged with a crime!
MORE TESTIMONY you won’t see in the “ethics” report.
This is clearly not prostitution under any conceivable definition.
Which is why I was never charged with a crime! pic.twitter.com/PpsVpeR3Sp
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 23, 2024
Another woman had testified, “I never charged anyone anything.”
“I never charged anyone anything” pic.twitter.com/UKsUriQLQa
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 23, 2024
Mollie Hemingway of The Federalist wrote, “INSANE: House Report On Matt Gaetz Relies On Witnesses Even The Corrupt DOJ Found Completely Lacked Any Credibility Whatsoever.”
INSANE: House Report On Matt Gaetz Relies On Witnesses Even The Corrupt DOJ Found Completely Lacked Any Credibility Whatsoever https://t.co/KEYb2yBgVU
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) December 23, 2024
Meanwhile, some conservatives are point out out there’s a lot more information that should be released on others.
X user Gunther Eagleman asked, “The House “Ethics Committee” released the full @mattgaetz report today. Why don’t we get to see which Congressional Members used our money to pay off victims of s*xual harassment? There’s a multi-million dollar slush fund that they get full access to. I want names.”
The House “Ethics Committee” released the full @mattgaetz report today.
Why don’t we get to see which Congressional Members used our money to pay off victims of s*xual harassment?
There’s a multi-million dollar slush fund that they get full access to. I want names.
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) December 23, 2024
“Why won’t the House Ethics Committee release the files on everyone else in congress who is involved with sexual misconduct and drug abuse?” echoed Merissa Hansen.
Why won’t the House Ethics Committee release the files on everyone else in congress who is involved with sexual misconduct and drug abuse?
— Merissa Hansen (@merissahansen17) December 23, 2024
“I’ll care about the Matt Gaetz ethics probe as soon as you release the Epstein client list. Deal?” another person wrote.
I’ll care about the Matt Gaetz ethics probe as soon as you release the Epstein client list. Deal?
— NotKennyRogers (@NotKennyRogers) December 23, 2024
Last week, Gaetz had released the following statement:
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued.
Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.
In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court.
My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.
But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s that fuck over the country!
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 18, 2024
House Ethics Committee releases report on Matt Gaetz sex, drug allegations https://t.co/FDKXrVTM3s
— CNBC (@CNBC) December 23, 2024
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