In a bit of a shock, the House Ethics Committee held a secret vote to release the report they compiled on Matt Gaetz while he was a member of Congress. The report would have come out some time ago, but Gaetz abruptly resigned after Donald Trump announced him as his choice for Attorney General, a post that requires Senate confirmation. Gaetz resigned his congressional seat days before the report would have come out, raising concerns the report would never see the light of day.
After Trump announced Gaetz as his pick. The media was flooded with what was already public information about Gaetz’s behavior, most famously for paying women, allegedly for sex, one of them underage at the time of their first encounter.
Two things became clear in the aftermath of Trump’s announcement on Gaetz. It was unlikely Gaetz could get confirmed without Senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee reviewing the House report, and Republicans in both the House and Senate didn’t like Gaetz very much. Gaetz collected many enemies in the fight as to who would become the Speaker of the House after the 2020 election and often criticized other Republican officials when they didn’t act Trumpy enough.
Gaetz soon realized he couldn’t get the needed Senate votes without releasing the Ethics Committee report and probably not with it. After a few days on the hot seat, Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration and has since taken a job as a television anchor for the little-watched One America News Network (OANN), which is scheduled to debut in January 2025.
Pressure on the House Ethics Committee to release the report died down, and an early vote along Party lines failed. It was just announced that the committee had taken a secret second vote to release the report as soon as they successfully concluded a vote on the budget.
Gaetz was incensed at the announcement and issued a statement in which he simultaneously declared his innocence while acknowledging bad behavior. He claimed he did nothing illegal though should the “smoking” he referred to be smoking marijuana, he would likely be wrong. Here is the text of the Gaetz statement.
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were…
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 18, 2024
The full text of Gaetz’s statement:
The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued.
Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.
In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated — even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court — which is why no such claim was ever made in court.
My 30’s were an era of working very hard — and playing hard too.
It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.
But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s that fuck over the country! — Matt Gaetz
Some of the publicly-known allegations include sleeping with a teenager within a few minutes of meeting her. In Gaetz’s mind, he may consider the funds he sent as for someone he dated. It sounds very much like he paid for sex, which, outside of a few counties in Nevada, is illegal. Gaetz has been publicly accused of sex trafficking a minor whom he transported across state lines and out of the country.
When the report is released, whatever its contents, nobody in America, including Trump and Gaetz voters, is likely to be surprised. Gaetz was reelected to the House seat, from which he later stepped down. You knew who Gaetz was when you voted for him—someone you wouldn’t leave alone with your teenage daughter. Frankly, that he was ever reelected to Congress, considered for Attorney General, and picked to anchor a news show says more about his supporters than about Gaetz. Another womanizer and drunk is still being considered for Secretary of Defense. I get that the President-elect doesn’t mind this behavior, but why do you find it acceptable?
I’m anxiously waiting for the report to be released. I won’t be judging Gaetz, however; that ship has sailed. I’ll be watching those of you who don’t care, all the while imposing your alleged morals and values on the rest of us. I’m getting my popcorn ready.
This article originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium.