Two days before Christmas, not long after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) withdrew his nomination for President-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, the bipartisan House Ethics Committee released an investigation into the former congressman's conduct. published a book.
committee Found “Substantial evidence” that Gates paid many women to have sex with him. He committed statutory rape of a 17-year-old girl. Illegal drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy are frequently used. Received gifts in excess of amounts authorized by the House of Representatives from individuals associated with the medical marijuana industry. Does not disclose buying or selling of stocks or virtual currencies. He asked his chief of staff to help a woman he had a sexual relationship with obtain a passport by falsely claiming she was his voter. and obstructed the committee's investigation by failing to respond to subpoenas and written questions and by failing to produce relevant documents.
The committee did not investigate allegations that Gaetz shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor. Used campaign funds to pay personal expenses. and took bribes.
Two Republicans and five Democrats on the committee voted in favor of releasing the report. The three Republicans concluded that conducting an investigation when the subject is no longer a member of Congress would be a “dangerous departure” from House practice, but they did not object to the committee's findings. is important.
In a democracy where the best disinfectant, sunlight, promotes public morality, the well-documented ethics commission's conclusions should be widely noted. Especially since Gates has it. hinted He might run for Marco Rubio's Senate seat or for Florida governor.
The Ethics Committee found that Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to 11 women for sex and drug use between 2017 and 2020. Many of them were initially identified through websites that brought together older men and younger women “seeking mutual benefit.” relationship. ” Gaetz distributed the funds through PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App. Accounts maintained under pseudonymous emails. cash; checks; and third parties.
First-hand testimony and contemporary text messages indicated that Gaetz and the women understood the “transactional nature” of their arrangement. One woman recalls: [Gaetz and I] We were playing together and there was sex involved. ” Another woman said that after the sexual encounter, he gave her a check for $750 with “Tuition Reimbursement” written on the memo line. A third woman said: “It's frustrating to know that I've lived a reality that he denies.” Several women cited fear of reprisal as a reason for refusing to testify.
I was caught with my pants down, so to speak. Gates admitted He said: “I probably partied more than I should have, womanized, drank and smoked too much early in my life.” However, he denied paying for sex, saying: “Someone is trying to reclassify my generosity towards my ex-girlfriend as something more unpleasant.” “Giving someone you're dating unsolicited funds, and it's unclaimed,” he says. fuming“Prostitution now?”
Gates also claimed that law enforcement officials' decision to close the investigation without filing charges meant he was “totally innocent,” even though “they hated me.” .
The decision not to indict Gaetz probably doesn't mean investigators We're screwed To find evidence of unethical or illegal activity. After all, the most recent federal sex trafficking law, adopted in 1986, prohibits allegations of force, fraud, or transportation of minors from one state to another or across national borders for sex acts. It is intended only for The alleged rape occurred in Florida, and the statute of limitations has expired for the alleged crime. Expired. Other sexual contact was consensual. Although the Mann Act of 1910 has broad applicability, the Justice Department has tended to apply it only to situations where victims have been severely exploited.
Therefore, federal prosecutors concluded that Florida, where unauthorized possession of controlled substances and solicitation of services for prostitution are criminal offenses even if the sex was consensual, was the appropriate venue for the prosecution. There is a possibility.
Whatever the reason, federal prosecutors subvert the MAGA ideals of the Justice Department 'weaponizing' the Biden administration carried out They will carry out a “fake witch hunt'' against those who “disturb the wings of the radical left.'' To date, Gates has not explained why he was given a free pass by the same department he promised to destroy if confirmed as attorney general.
Will Gaetz run for political office again? Time will tell. That said, I don't know if time heals all wounds or all heel wounds.
Glenn C. Altshuler is the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin Professor Emeritus of American Studies at Cornell University.
