A long-awaited report into former Republican US Representative Matt Gaetz is expected to be released on Monday. It follows an investigation by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use by Gaetz, who was briefly lined up for a top job in the cabinet of President-elect Donald Trump. A draft of the report seen by the BBC’s US partner CBS News – described as the final version – reportedly says there is “substantial evidence” that Gaetz broke state laws relating to sexual misconduct while in office. Gaetz, 42, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying he is the victim of a smear campaign. He has not commented on the latest developments. The 37-page draft seen by CBS is quoted as saying: “The committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.” From 2017 to 2020, Gaetz made payments totalling more than $90,000 (£72,000) to 12 different women “that the Committee determined were likely in connection with sexual activity and/or drug use”, CBS quotes the draft as saying. The draft also reportedly contains testimony that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old at a party in 2017, giving her $400 “which she understood to be payment for sex”. Gaetz has denied having sex with a minor. The Department of Justice (DoJ) – which Trump had initially planned for Gaetz to lead – also investigated an allegation that he had sex with a minor but ultimately did not file any criminal charges against him.
Source link
