Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) has dropped an 11-hour lawsuit seeking to block the publication of the House Ethics Committee's report after it was publicly distributed.
The report released Monday alleges that when Gaetz was 35, he paid a 17-year-old high school student for sex, used illegal drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy, and obstructed a congressional investigation into Gaetz's conduct. They say they have found “significant evidence” that
Earlier in the day, Gaetz filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the report's release, arguing that the committee has no jurisdiction over him because the Florida Republican has resigned from Congress.
“Defendants’ unprecedented and procedurally flawed decision to release the report that was the subject of Plaintiffs’ motion for a temporary restraining order without notifying Plaintiffs resulted in Defendants having no knowledge of this pending litigation. “Even though Plaintiffs did or reasonably should have known, they have now suffered irreparable harm,” wrote Jonathan Gross, Gaetz's attorney. Submission to court After the committee publishes its report.
“Plaintiffs therefore agree that instant action is at issue and the court no longer has subject matter jurisdiction to order the previously requested relief,” Gross continued.
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, appointed by former President Obama to oversee the dispute, quickly dismissed the case.
“Consistent with plaintiff's response to the show cause order, this matter is dismissed as an issue. The clerk of court shall close this matter,” Mehta wrote in a short order.
of The long-awaited reportThe House Ethics Committee's years-long, on-and-off investigation into the former Florida lawmaker has come to an end.
Gates has repeatedly denied having sexual contact with minors or any other wrongdoing. Gaetz said last week, ahead of the report's release, that he had engaged in “not criminal but embarrassing” conduct in the past.
