U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) listens to testimony during a U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Undue Influence: The Supreme Court Process and the Politics of SCOTUS,” to consider allegations that former anti-abortion leader Rev. Robert Schenck was given advance word of mouth as a result. A major 2014 US Supreme Court case involving contraception written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, December 8, 2022.
Evelyn Hochstein | Reuters
the House Ethics Committee She revealed Monday that she had 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 in Congress.
The committee issued its conclusions in A Final report In its years-long investigation into allegations that Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
Hours before the long-awaited report was released, Gaetz asked a federal judge to issue a ruling Temporary restraining order That would prevent its issuance.
The ethics commission's report, the final product of an investigation that began in 2021, has been the focus of a recent firestorm of controversy surrounding the former Florida lawmaker.
Gaetz, 42, resigned from Congress in mid-November, shortly after the president was elected Donald Trump He chose him to be Attorney General of the United States. Trump's pick to lead the Justice Department immediately drew boos from critics, who were quick to point out that Gaetz, if confirmed, would be in charge of the agency that previously investigated him for sex trafficking allegations.
the Ministry of Justice This investigation was concluded without criminal charges being filed. But the Ethics Commission, which had paused its efforts while implementing the Justice Department's version, reauthorized its investigation in May 2023.
When Gaetz left Congress, Republicans, including Ethics Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Guest, R-Mo., said he was no longer within the committee's jurisdiction, casting doubt on whether its report would be made public.
News outlets I mentioned Meanwhile, Gaetz's departure came just two days before the Ethics Committee voted to issue the report. The committee is divided evenly between Democrats and Republicans. At a dead end On whether the report will be shared even though Gaetz is no longer a member of Congress.
But in A Secret vote In early December, the committee decided to publish the report.
Gates withdrew His bid for attorney general came just eight days after Trump was chosen, saying he was “unfairly becoming a distraction” to the Republican president-elect's transition efforts. He denied committing all wrongdoing.
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