The House Ethics Committee released its long-awaited report on former Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Monday.
Many thought the report would be damning. However, Gaetz was already being investigated for all of the charges detailed in the report and was not indicted by the Biden-Harris Department of Justice. Through it all, Gates remained steadfast and denied all allegations against him.
“The Biden/Garland Department of Justice spent years investigating allegations that I committed various crimes,” Gaetz said. said said in a post to X ahead of the report's release. “I wasn't charged with anything. I'm completely innocent. It wasn't even a campaign finance violation. And the people who were investigating me hated me.”
“The very same '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. ” Gates continued. “I have never had the opportunity to confront my accusers. I have never been indicted or sued. Instead, the House Ethics Committee has not had the opportunity to discuss or refute my accusations as a former lawmaker. A report will reportedly be posted online stating that there is no opportunity to do so” of the body. ”
The report's most sensational finding was that Gates allegedly slept with a 17-year-old girl and paid multiple women for purported sexual encounters in 2017 while he was a member of Congress.
Gates again categorically denied these allegations, pointing out that they were never raised in court and were never prosecuted.
“When I was single, I often sent money to the women I dated, and some of them asked me to send money even though I had never dated them,'' Gates said. “I've dated several women over the years.”
“I have never had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18,” Gates continued. “Any claim of mine will be thrown out in court. That's why no such claim has ever been made in court.”
After Gaetz resigned from the House in November, the committee considered whether to release the report because it was no longer within its jurisdiction. It is not normal practice to release reports on former members, and despite Chairman Mike Johnson's defense of Gaetz, the committee voted to release the report anyway.
“My 30s were also a time of working hard and playing hard,” Gates said. “It's not a crime, but I'm ashamed that I probably partied more than I should have, womanized, drank and smoked early in my life. I'm living a different life now. ”
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