Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

Matt Gaetz paid for sex and drugs while in Congress, House Ethics report says: Live updates

Gaetz stands accused of buying and using illegal drugs, including from his office on Capitol Hill, according to the report

Oliver O'Connell,Gustaf Kilander,Kelly Rissman
Monday 23 December 2024 21:17 EST
Comments
Congress Narrowly Averts Government Shutdown — And Rejects Trump’s Debt Ceiling Commands

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The House Ethics Committee report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has been released, with the panel having “determined there is substantial evidence” that the former congressman and attorney general nominee violated a statutory rape law.

“The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report states.

Before its release, Gaetz sued the committee to block the release of the report that found that he paid thousands of dollars to more than a dozen women — including a 17-year-old girl — for sex.

In a federal lawsuit filed in Washington, D.C., the Republican accused the committee of making an “unconstitutional” attempt to “exercise jurisdiction over a private citizen” by releasing a report “containing potentially defamatory allegations.”

He asked for a judge to issue an emergency order to block the report’s release, but drafts had already been published in several news outlets Monday morning.

Victims and families react as Biden spares the lives of 37 federal death row inmates

Victims’ families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions shared a range of emotions on Monday, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences.

Biden converted the sentences of 37 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The inmates include people who were convicted in the slayings of police, military officers and federal prisoners and guards. Others were involved in deadly robberies and drug deals.

Three inmates will remain on federal death row: Dylann Roof, convicted of the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; the 2013 Boston Marathon Bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of life Synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history.

Read more:

Victims and families react as Biden spares the lives of 37 federal death row inmates

Victims’ families and others affected by crimes that resulted in federal death row convictions are sharing a range of emotions, from relief to anger, after President Joe Biden commuted dozens of the sentences

Jeffrey Collins, Ali Swenson23 December 2024 20:45

Team Trump releases statement on Biden’s ‘abhorrent’ pardon decisions

These are among the worst killers in the world and this abhorrent decision by Joe Biden is a slap in the face to the victims, their families, and their loved ones. President Trump stands for the rule of law, which will return when he is back in the White House after he was elected with a massive mandate from the American people.

Steven Cheung, Trump Communications Director
Ariana Baio23 December 2024 20:40

Matt Gaetz sues ethics committee to block ‘defamatory’ report

Matt Gaetz sued the House Ethics Committee in a last-ditch attempt to block the publication of a damning report into allegations he paid for sex with more than a dozen women, including a 17-year-old girl.

The report follows a long-running investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use while he was a member of Congress, when he allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars on sex- and drug-fueled parties and travel.

He is accused of paying more than $90,000 to at least 12 different women, including a high school student, according to the report, which was released Monday, after Gaetz filed his lawsuit.

Read more:

Matt Gaetz sues ethics committee to block ‘defamatory’ report

Gaetz is accused of spending tens of thousands of dollars on sex- and drug-fueled parties and travel

Alex Woodward23 December 2024 20:30

Leaked ethics committee report finds evidence Matt Gaetz paid 17-year-old-girl for sex

A leaked draft report from the House Ethics Committee reveals damning new details about the long-running investigation into Matt Gaetz’s alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, according to multiple outlets.

The former Republican representative, who was Donald Trump’s first choice for attorney general of the United States, is accused of paying thousands of dollars to more than a dozen women — including a 17-year-old girl — for sex.

Gaetz is also accused of using illegal drugs, including in his office on Capitol Hill, according to the report, a final draft of which was obtained by CBS News and CNN.

He is accused of violating Florida’s statutory rape laws, among others, the report found.

“The Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,” the report states.

Read more:

Ethics committee report finds evidence Matt Gaetz paid 17-year-old-girl for sex

Former congressman violated standards ‘prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress,’ leaked report finds

Alex Woodward, Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 20:15

Gaetz tried to obstruct committee’s investigation: Report

Gustaf.Kilander23 December 2024 20:00

Ethics report appendix includes texts from Gaetz

Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 19:45

Gaetz used cocaine and ecstasy on multiple occasions: Ethics report

Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 19:30

Johnson slams Biden for commuting death sentences

Gustaf Kilander23 December 2024 19:15

Biden cheered by Democrats and civil rights groups for commuting dozens of death row sentences

Civil rights groups who were anxiously preparing for the onset of Donald Trump’s presidency breathed a sigh of relief on Monday as President Joe Biden announced the largest single-day commutation of federal death row inmates in modern history.

The White House announced early Monday morning that the president would commute the sentences of 37 inmates awaiting execution in the federal prison system. Now, just three people will remain on death row following the commutations: mass murderers Dylann Roof, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and Robert Bowers.

Read more:

Biden cheered by civil rights groups for commuting dozens of death row sentences

Biden’s announcement leaves Democrats breathing easier after Hunter, ‘Kids for Cash’ clemency news

John Bowden23 December 2024 19:00

Trump declares Elon Musk is ‘not going to be president’ amid ongoing taunts over who’s really in charge

While Donald Trump still thinks his “first buddy” Elon Musk is a “great guy,” he wants to make it clear that only one man is calling the shots.

“No, he’s not taking the presidency,” Trump declared in a Sunday night speech. “That’s not happening.”

The president-elect’s snarky remark comes as Democrats have sought to drive a wedge between the world’s richest man and the notoriously thin-skinned Trump by highlighting Musk’s growing influence and describing him as the “real president.” The taunts have only grown following last week’s chaos on Capitol Hill after Musk raged against House Republicans’ original spending bill, prompting lawmakers to race against the clock to strike another deal to prevent the government from shutting down.

Read more:

Trump declares Elon Musk is ‘not going to be president’ amid ongoing taunts

‘No, he’s not taking the presidency,’ Donald Trump exclaimed Sunday night. ‘That’s not happening.’

Justin Baragona23 December 2024 18:30

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in