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Matt Gaetz Accused of Spending $90,000 on Sex and Drugs, Report Reveals

Matt Gaetz is accused of spending money on sexual encounters, using illegal drugs, exhibiting uncooperative behavior, and violating House rules in the Ethics Committee's report.

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Matt Gaetz Accused of Spending $90,000 on Sex and Drugs, Report Reveals

When Donald Trump appointed Matt Gaetz as the US attorney general, he drew a significant media attention. However, he left the US House of Representatives in November, is currently in the news after a House Ethics Committee investigation exposed a number of unethical and unlawful activities, including having sex with a 17-year-old girl.

About the allegation charged on Matt Gaetz

The former congressman from Florida has denied any misconduct. He “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 favours and privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” according to the 37-page report, which was made public on Monday, December 23.

According to the report, which was the result of a years-long investigation, there was “substantial evidence” that Gaetz “regularly paid women for engaging in sexual activity with him” between 2017 and 2020 and “multiple different occasions” between 2017 and 2019 in possession of illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy. We examine the most important lessons to be learnt from this shocking study.

Gaetz sexually assaulted a minor

There is sufficient proof that Gaetz, then 35, had intercourse with a 17-year-old in July 2017, according to the House Ethics Committee report. According to the report, the woman “had just completed her junior year of high school” and was named Victim A. In Florida, the consent age is 18.

The youngster recalled that she “received $400 in cash from him” after Gaetz had sex with her twice, according to the report. According to the investigation, the lady had witnessed Gaetz take cocaine at the party and had used ecstasy that evening.

The inquiry did note, however, that Gaetz did not know the girl was 17 until almost a month after the intercourse.

Notably, Gaetz has previously refuted claims that he had slept with a child. “I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18,” he stated in a recent post on X. No such claim was ever brought in court since whatever claim I had would be destroyed there.

Gaetz denied paying for sex and defended himself on X, saying, “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.”

Gaetz Spent Over $90,000 on Sexual Encounters and Drugs

The report, released on Monday, shows that Matt Gaetz spent over $90,000 on sexual encounters and drugs. Between 2017 and 2020, he paid 12 women using apps like PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp. Both Gaetz and his friend, Joel Greenberg, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence, made the payments. Greenberg often arranged the encounters through the website SeekingArrangement.com. The committee confirmed that Gaetz knew the women had met Greenberg through the “sugar dating” platform.

Allegations of Consent and Drug Use

The committee interviewed women involved in the encounters. All of them confirmed that the encounters were consensual. However, one woman stated that drug use at the parties might have affected her ability to fully consent. She said, “I think about it all the time… I still see him when I turn on the TV and there’s nothing anyone can do. It’s frustrating to know I lived a reality that he denies.”

Gaetz Used Illegal Drugs

The report also found strong evidence that Gaetz used illegal drugs, such as cocaine, ecstasy, and marijuana. He even created a pseudonymous email account in his House office to buy marijuana. The committee also found that Gaetz provided drugs to women to facilitate sexual encounters. Despite this, Gaetz denied using illicit drugs.

Violation of House Rules

The report revealed that Gaetz violated House rules regarding the acceptance of luxury gifts. In 2018, he accepted a holiday to the Bahamas. House rules require members to request a waiver for gifts exceeding a certain value. The report also stated that Gaetz falsely claimed a woman he had sex with was a constituent. He asked for expedited passport assistance, which violates House rules against using one’s position for personal favors.

Accusations of Obstruction

A key point in the report is Gaetz’s uncooperative behavior during the investigation. The committee noted that Gaetz provided minimal documentation in response to their requests and refused to participate in a voluntary interview. The report concluded that Gaetz tried to deflect, mislead, and delay the investigation to avoid exposing his actions.

Uncertain Future for Gaetz

The House Ethics Committee’s findings are a significant blow to Gaetz’s reputation. However, it is uncertain whether he will face further prosecution. The Justice Department had investigated the same matters but informed Gaetz’s legal team in February 2023 that they would not press charges due to a lack of sufficient evidence for a strong case.

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