The ethics report said Gaetz paid “tens of thousands” for sex and drugs

The congressional ethics report stated that “there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House rules and other standards of conduct that prohibit prostitution, statutory rape, illegal drug use, impermissible gifts, special privileges or privileges, and other conduct that interferes with the work of Congress.” .

The report states that between 2017 and 2020, Gaetz made payments totaling more than $90,000 (£72,000) to 12 different women “which the Committee determined were related to sexual activity and/or drug use”.

In addition, the report states that Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex at a party in 2017 and gave her $400, which he “understood was payment for sex.” Gaetz denied having sex with the minor.

The Justice Department also investigated allegations that he had sex with a minor, but ultimately did not file any criminal charges against him.

In a last-minute court filing Monday, Gaetz sought a temporary restraining order to prevent the release of the report. He accused the ethics committee of trying to exercise its jurisdiction over a private citizen.

The committee’s 42-page report accuses Gaetz of being “uncooperative” during its review, and that he frequently “directed, deterred or misdirected” the panel “to prevent exposure of his actions.”

Despite the subpoena, he never appeared before the committee to testify.

Gaetz represented Florida’s first congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, the same election that propelled his ally Trump to the White House for the first time.

Gaetz married his current wife Ginger in 2021, who has supported the former Florida congressman as he faces charges.

She posted a photo on her husband’s X with the caption “unemployment has never looked so good” after she resigned from Congress and was nominated to become attorney general.

Gaetz The committee was believed to be out of reach when he resigned from Congress last month following Trump’s appointment as US attorney general – America’s top law enforcement agency to lead the Justice Department.

Trump chose Gaetz in part because he is also an ultra-loyalist who has vowed to take on a “weaponized” legal system that supporters believe is targeting Trump.

He has been one of Trump’s staunchest defenders on Capitol Hill. But many Republicans in Congress, including those tasked with voting on such nominees, were outraged by the choice and successfully protested.

Gaetz withdrew from the election just eight days after being nominated by Trump amid controversy. Trump later selected former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi as his nominee for attorney general.

Trump has yet to comment on the report’s findings.