Former embattled lawmaker Matt Gaetz acknowledged Wednesday that he was a party animal and womanizer in his 30s when he was a junior lawmaker on Capitol Hill, but vehemently denied accusations that he had sex with minors.
The Sunshine State Republican is set to release a damning report from the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sexual misconduct against him, including that he paid women for sex while he was a member of Congress. A series of X posts caused a stir in response to the report.
“My 30s were a time of working hard and playing hard. It's not a crime, but it's probably shameful that I partied more than I should have, womanized, drank and smoked early in my life. That’s it,” Gates, 42, wrote.
“I'm living a different life now. But at least I didn't vote for a cross-country CR!”
The Florida Republican resigned from Congress on Nov. 13, hours after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to be the next attorney general, despite a Congressional ethics investigation and a previous Justice Department investigation. A steady stream of allegations of sexual misconduct by him eventually led to his resignation from Congress. He withdrew from the recognition fight.
News of the ethics report's release apparently sparked anger among members of Congress, who later posted another X post that read, “Revealing all 'me too' settlements paid using public institutions. “We are considering returning to Parliament in January just to table a privilege motion to do so.” (Including funds from former members)
“Someone proposed to me the following plan: 1. Attend Congress on January 3, 2025 2. Participate in the Speaker election (after all, I was elected to the 119th Congress… ) 3. Take an oath 4. File a privilege motion Reveal all “me too” settlements paid with public funds (including to former members) 5. Resign and denounce my activities Start. [One America News] Program on January 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM EST. ”
Privilege claims must be considered within 48 hours of submission. Also available in Gaetz's other posts Based on past reports Millions of dollars in taxpayer money are being paid into Congressional slush funds to settle sexual harassment lawsuits against members of Congress.
He first became a member of the Florida Legislature in 2017 after serving in the Florida House since 2010. Rumors about his party days have long been circulating in Congress.
At least three accusers claim they paid money in exchange for sex while they were members of Congress, according to their lawyers. Some of these payments were recorded in Venmo.
The accuser's attorney says the sex with the then-minor occurred at a party in July 2017, and there is at least one other witness who has testified to that. .
Attorney Joel Leppard, who represents the two accusers, who were not minors at the time, publicly said the witness said “her understanding was that Matt Gaetz didn't know about it.” suggested. [the 17-year-old] ABC News reported that he was a minor.
“And when he learned she was underage, he broke off the relationship and did not continue their sexual relationship until she was 18.”
Gaetz has repeatedly denied accusations of wrongdoing, but on Wednesday he became more specific.
“When I was single, I often sent money to the women I dated, but there were also women I'd never dated who asked me to. I dated some of these women over the years.” I have never had any sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18. My claims would not stand up in court. That is why such claims were never made in court,” he told X. I wrote it.
After President-elect Donald Trump nominated him to be U.S. attorney general, lawmakers began demanding that the Ethics Commission release its findings on him. The committee deadlocked over whether to do so.
Gaetz ultimately declined his candidacy and will join One America News Network as an anchor.
The Justice Department had investigated the allegations against Gates, but ultimately declined to press charges and the matter was closed in 2021.
“I was completely innocent of any charges, no campaign finance violations, and the people who were investigating me hated me,” Gates added of X.
“The very 'witnesses' that the Department of Justice deemed unreliable were then assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims without cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I never had a chance to confront my accuser. I was never charged. I have never been sued. ”
Many Republicans were particularly angered by Gaetz's ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year.
The former lawmaker spearheaded a revolt with seven other Republicans to protest Mr. McCarthy's efforts to stop the government shutdown last fall.
Mr. McCarthy has repeatedly claimed that Mr. Gaetz wanted to intervene on his behalf and kill the ethics investigation.
Mr. Gates denied the allegations. On Wednesday, he accused the Ethics Commission of not giving him a chance to defend himself.
“I have been told that the House Ethics Committee will post a report online that I will not have the opportunity to discuss or refute as a former member,” Gaetz added of X.
He married his wife, Lucky Gates, in a small ceremony on Catalina Island in August 2021 after meeting at a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser the year before.
