The House Ethics Committee reportedly voted earlier this month to release its ethics report on former Rep. Matt Gaetz after the final votes of this Congress are taken.
The reversal, reported by CNN, represents a stark turnaround from last month when committee members opted not to release the report after Gaetz resigned from Congress. The previous vote not to release the report was made along party lines, meaning some Republicans defected.
In a statement posted to X, Gaetz vigorously denied any wrongdoing, citing the Biden administration’s Department of Justice investigation that didn’t pursue charges after failing to find sufficient evidence.
“I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me,” he said.
“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,” Gaetz continued. “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.”
He said that he sent funds to some women he dated or was interested in but never had sexual contact with anyone under the age of 18.
“Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court — which is why no such claim was ever made in court,” Gaetz said. “My 30s 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.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Gaetz for further comment.
Gaetz resigned his seat after being nominated for the position of attorney general, days before the House Ethics Committee was set to release a report about a yearslong investigation into him regarding allegations of illicit drug use and sexual misconduct, including paying for sex with a minor. When he resigned, the Ethics Committee lost its jurisdiction over him, and precedent dictated that no report be published.
The Florida Republican has consistently denied the allegations, characterizing the investigation as politically motivated.
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He announced a week after he was nominated attorney general that he was dropping out, feeling he was unnecessarily distracting from the Trump administration.
Gaetz recently announced that he was joining One America News Network as a prime-time host starting in January.
