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The House Ethics Committee’s report released on Monday sheds new light on the alleged misconduct of Matt Gaetz, an associate of Donald Trump, revealing multiple accusations and insights from the lengthy investigation.
The committee found that from at least 2017 to 2020, Gaetz, a former congressman from Florida, routinely provided financial compensation to women for sexual encounters, engaged in illicit drug use, accepted gifts exceeding Congressional limits, and even assisted a woman in obtaining a passport. These activities raise serious questions about his conduct while in office.
Gaetz, who vacated his position in the House of Representatives in November, just before the report was slated for release, has refuted the allegations, claiming the investigation was biased and unfair.
Here are four key findings from the report:
A Complex Financial Network
According to the findings, Gaetz transferred over $90,000 to women for various activities, creating a convoluted financial trail that was challenging for investigators to follow. The report emphasized that it was unclear to what extent these payments were made for sexual activities.
Gaetz reportedly utilized his associate, Joel Greenberg, who is currently incarcerated for related crimes, as a mediator in these transactions and allegedly logged into Greenberg’s account on a dating site to connect with younger women. While he made direct payments as well, often using applications like Venmo, the committee noted that he frequently obscured the nature of these payments, employing methods such as using others’ PayPal accounts or checks labeled as “tuition reimbursement.”
Although Gaetz asserts that his financial contributions to women were gifts, rather than transactions, some women involved have indicated that their relationships were not transactional in nature. However, one girlfriend exercised her Fifth Amendment rights when questioned about receiving payments for sex or drugs.
Substance Use and Passport Assistance
The report detailed allegations of Gaetz consuming illegal drugs while also reimbursing others for their purchases. The focus was primarily on his reported heavy use of marijuana, including asking women to bring cannabis products to social gatherings while using a pseudonymous email account for purchases.
A trip to the Bahamas, financed by someone connected to the medical marijuana sector, also raised red flags, as the individual reportedly hired escorts to accompany Gaetz and his entourage. Furthermore, accounts from various women indicated that intoxication during events made it difficult for them to fully comprehend the situations or provide clear consent.
A particularly troubling revelation involved a 17-year-old girl, who reported having two sexual encounters with Gaetz in 2017 while under the influence of drugs. She received $400 from him after their encounters. The committee clarified there was no evidence that Gaetz was aware of her age at the time.
In 2021, Greenberg pleaded guilty to sex trafficking concerning this minor. Additionally, Gaetz allegedly directed his chief of staff to expedite a passport application for a woman to whom he was romantically involved, a move deemed inappropriate as the woman was not a constituent.
Allegations of Investigation Interference
The committee’s report delves into Gaetz’s purported attempts to obstruct the investigation. It detailed how he allegedly failed to provide evidence he claimed would clear his name. The report concluded that Gaetz sought to misguide the inquiry to avoid exposure of his actions.
Gaetz has characterized the committee’s efforts as a politically motivated attack, suggesting they were influenced by former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, particularly after his attempts to unseat McCarthy last year. Notably, although he claimed to have provided a substantial amount of records, the committee found that most were irrelevant or readily available public documents.
A significant point of contention arose concerning a Bahamas trip, where he was accused of withholding pertinent information. The committee ultimately ruled that Gaetz violated gift restrictions due to the trip’s excessive value.
Dissent within the Committee
The report concludes with a dissenting statement from the Ethics Committee Chairman, Michael Guest, representing unnamed committee members. While they do not dispute the findings, they argue that releasing the report after Gaetz’s resignation is unprecedented and could undermine the committee’s integrity and practices.
They expressed concern that this move opens the committee to undue scrutiny and may be perceived as an attempt to weaponize the investigation process.
Source
www.bbc.com