Gaetz is suing to block the House ethics report over alleged sexual misconduct

WASHINGTON – Former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz sued the House Ethics Committee Monday morning to block the release of the results of a multiyear investigation into allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old. However, the detailed report was released later on Monday.

Gaetz argued that the committee did not have the authority to release its report because he had resigned from Congress. He also said that the publication would cause him “irreparable harm” as he had not had sufficient opportunity to challenge the investigation and the information could defame him.

The committee found evidence that Gaetz regularly paid women to engage in sexual activity with him from at least 2017 to 2020, had sexual activity with a 17-year-old in 2017, had illegal drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy from 2017 to 2019, and attempted to obstruct him Congressional investigation.

More:Matt Gaetz’s ethics report finds “substantial evidence” that he engaged in statutory rape and prostitution

“The Committee’s apparent intention to publish its report after explicitly acknowledging that it lacks jurisdiction over former members, does not follow constitutional notions of due process, and does not adhere to its own procedural rules and precedents constitutes a constitutes “unprecedented overreach that threatens fundamental constitutional rights.” “Established procedural protections,” the lawsuit says.

In the report, the committee acknowledged that it does not typically release findings after losing jurisdiction, but said it had done so several times before after determining it was in the public interest.

“Although several committee members raised objections in this case, a majority of committee members agreed that the committee’s findings should be made available to the public,” the report said.

More:Matt Gaetz’s report: Read the full report from the House Ethics Committee

The report cites “substantial evidence” that the former congressman, who recently withdrew his name as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, engaged in statutory rape, prostitution and illegal drug use.

It’s not clear how the actual release of the report will affect Gaetz’s lawsuit. Gaetz’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Jacob Bliss, a spokesman for Gaetz, directed USA TODAY to Gaetz’s X account, where the former congressman suggested he was being accused of engaging in prostitution by giving unsolicited money to someone he was dating.

“There is a reason they did this to me in a report on Christmas Eve and not in a courtroom where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses,” Gaetz wrote.

In his lawsuit, which seeks a preliminary injunction and preliminary injunction that would have blocked the report’s release, Gaetz says the committee denied him access to evidence collected during the investigation and a “meaningful opportunity.” to respond to certain allegations.

According to the report, Gaetz “was uncooperative throughout the committee’s review.” It says he provided “minimal documentation” when responding to committee questions, did not consent to a voluntary interview and did not appear to testify after receiving a subpoena.

“When serious public allegations are made against a member, the committee often investigates, and when such allegations are false, the committee, together with the defendant, aims to refute those allegations,” the report said.

Breaking News

Dellupodisabato

Gaetz is suing to block the House ethics report over alleged sexual misconduct

Leave a Reply Cancel reply