House Ethics Probe Continues Into Matt Gaetz And Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct, Drug Use

June 19, 2024

The House Ethics Committee announced Tuesday that it will further review allegations against Northwest Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz involving sexual misconduct, illicit drug use and that he accepted improper gifts.

Gaetz has denied all of the allegations, and the committee said it has experienced “difficulty in obtaining relevant information from Representative Gaetz”.

“Based on its review to date, the Committee has determined that certain of the allegations merit continued review. During the course of its investigation, the Committee has also identified additional allegations that merit review,” the committee said in a statement Tuesday.

House investigators are looking further into accusations Gaetz “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.” The complete statement and allegations are below.

Gaetz released the following statement on social media:

“The House Ethics Committee has closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me. Instead of working with me to ban Congressional stock trading, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations. They are doing this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration.

“This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime. I work for Northwest Floridians who won’t be swayed by this nonsense and McCarthy and his goons know it.”

(article continues below)

The following is the complete statement from the House Ethics Committee:

“On April 9, 2021, the Committee announced it had initiated a review into allegations that Representative Matt Gaetz may have engaged in sexual misconduct and/or illicit drug use, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gift, in violation of House Rules, laws, or other standards of conduct. The Committee deferred its consideration of the matter in response to a request from the Department of Justice (DOJ). In May 2023, the Committee reauthorized its investigation after DOJ withdrew its deferral request.

“There has been a significant and unusual amount of public reporting on the Committee’s activities this Congress. Much of that reporting has been inaccurate. The Committee’s investigations are conducted confidentially, but the Committee’s confidentiality rules do not prohibit witnesses from disclosing information about the Committee’s requests or conversations with Committee investigators. The Committee is confident in the integrity of its process.

“Representative Gaetz has categorically denied all of the allegations before the Committee. Notwithstanding the difficulty in obtaining relevant information from Representative Gaetz and others, the Committee has spoken with more than a dozen witnesses, issued 25 subpoenas, and reviewed thousands of pages of documents in this matter. Based on its review to date, the Committee has determined that certain of the allegations merit continued review. During the course of its investigation, the Committee has also identified additional allegations that merit review.

“Accordingly, the Committee is reviewing allegations pursuant to Committee Rules 14(a)(3) and 18(a) that Representative Gaetz may have: engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favors to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct. The Committee will take no further action at this time on the allegations that he may have shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe or improper gratuity.

“The Committee notes that the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred. No other public comment will be made on this matter except in accordance with Committee rules.”

Comments

40 Responses to “House Ethics Probe Continues Into Matt Gaetz And Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct, Drug Use”

  1. derek on June 21st, 2024 9:57 am

    The only thing he has done is 1) support DJT 2) Rock the Boat!

  2. None Better on June 21st, 2024 9:41 am

    It is amazing that out of some 650,000 people in FL-D1, this is the best person that can be found as our representative in Congress.

  3. Steve on June 21st, 2024 6:53 am

    Maybe Jim Jordan can investigate ( no jacket – no spine ) still investigating the world is flat theory . The voters are tired of sending republicans to fight against crazy fruit cake ideas from the democrats . Republicans might need a little more courage , win something you spineless loserrs .Vote the losers out ; we need some kinda win .

  4. Henry Coe on June 20th, 2024 9:02 pm

    re:Jlb From a few months ago.

    U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and his wife were charged with obstruction of justice in a new, 18-count indictment unsealed on Tuesday, adding to corruption charges the New Jersey Democrat already faces.

  5. Jlb on June 20th, 2024 3:17 pm

    Bobby could be said for others also. I mean drugs in the White House, an Noone knows who it belongs too! Sadly the only time ethics matter is if Republican follows your title…we the people deserve better…

  6. do the right thing on June 20th, 2024 2:59 pm

    he was turned in for doing cocaine bumps by his fellow republicans, many times, and the complaints keeps coming from them. Dragging the investigations on and on.

  7. Floridian on June 20th, 2024 10:14 am

    MATT GAETZ is a man of INTEGRITY and places the best interests of this district FIRST! That’s why I let him take my 16 year old DAUGHTER to a PARTY with all of his SMART colleagues so she could LEARN something!

  8. David Huie Green on June 20th, 2024 10:01 am

    CONTEMPLATING”
    ” he is one of the few like K &T that try to help their states&the country!!”

    There are two Mat Gatez in The House of Representatives? Not just the one who is a rump kisser and minor nailer?

    Lucky for the others

  9. Henry Coe on June 20th, 2024 9:45 am

    Reading other comments there are some who are blaming or inferring that the ethics investigation against Matt Gaetz is being done by Democrats. It is not being done by Democrats. It is being done by the House Ethics Panel and the House is being run by Republicans. Many many of these Republicans are not happy with Matt Gaetz because of his past political antics. Remember Speaker McCarthy?
    Matt is pretty useless when it comes to working with other Republicans not to mention he makes no effort to reach across the isle and except for being a trouble maker, he’s pretty useless as Congressman.
    Matt’s DUI history says alot that he has/had substance abuse issues and we voted him into office. Maybe NW Florida should do a better job vetting our candidates?

  10. Steve on June 20th, 2024 9:15 am

    Matt should have jailed his Dem enemy’s a longtime ago ; that’s what the Dems do to their political enemies.But he was out doing something, not sure ?

  11. Bob on June 20th, 2024 2:18 am

    @Bill T

    Hold up Bill. Weren’t you just advocating for killing someone for being charged with this exact same crime a couple of stories down?

    Why do you believe that some people should be executed for assaulting minors, but some people should be let off the hook? What other crimes do you think members of the GOP should be allowed to commit without prosecution?

  12. dave lamb on June 20th, 2024 1:07 am

    Be careful little eyes what you see
    Be careful little ears what you hear…
    It is hard to disseminate truth from fiction. It seems this in this day of politics that any dirty tact, especially by Democrats, is fair game. No blow is too low. The rest of us need to filter out the smut. Be careful to decipher the truth. If you follow party lines, you might get bit.

  13. Give me a break on June 19th, 2024 11:59 pm

    And Eugene:

    The fact is that an investigation is ongoing, therefore no charges are currently applied. That does not mean no charges will be filed up on conclusion of the inquiry.

    Seriously, reading comprehension is key.

  14. Give me a break on June 19th, 2024 11:26 pm

    boss:
    The information about who serves on the committee is widely available.

    Hint: republicans control the committee and are in charge of the investigation.

  15. Give me a break on June 19th, 2024 11:22 pm

    Matt Gaetz is an embarrassment to this District.

    His dad, Don Gaetz is also running and he was found to have subverted the will of Florida voters to favor republicans. Facts!

    We don’t need these morally and ethically challenged individuals representing our area.

  16. Give me a break on June 19th, 2024 11:19 pm

    BillT:

    You do realize that the republicans control the House and this inquiry, right? They are the ones that announced the new avenues of investigation.

    This can’t be laid at the feet of the Democrats, lol!

  17. Dow Brown on June 19th, 2024 9:10 pm

    Someone who is trying to stop the politicians from insider trading!! Someone who wants a level playing field for stock trading trading. Someone who they themselves could profit from insider trading and do legal what landed Martha Stewart in jail. Sounds like someone who can expect to be under investigation. You can’t mess with there money. Looks like I need to send some. Thanks for your insight Matt Geatze seems we have elected a decent human being.

  18. vanhale-n on June 19th, 2024 7:42 pm

    D I T O LOU.+ REP. GAETZ has had the military& the citizens of N-W-F 6 since he was first elected. the books this man could write about what this man sees & hears in congress! he is one of the few like kennedy-louisiana& tubuerville-alabama that try to help their states&the country!!

  19. George on June 19th, 2024 6:10 pm

    I will vote against Gatez and I will vote for Trump.
    Gatez proved himself by using and voting with the liberals
    In congress to oust the speaker of the house. For this reason he lost my vote.

  20. D. Flowers on June 19th, 2024 5:52 pm

    I am sure we’d all like to know the truth of things. But we seem to live in a time when, if you can find the right venue, the right jury, the right prosecutor and the right judge, you can find the truth you want.

  21. jimbo on June 19th, 2024 5:33 pm

    It is odd for me to read these comments and so many people already attributing it to just politics against the Republicans. At some point, we must get back to electing persons with morals and ethics. We are always so very quick to just ignore the red flags that we see and blame it to some behind the scenes establishment trying to do in our particular party. We need to quit ignoring signs that we see in our politicians that we would not tolerate in our household. When did we get trained to blame everyone but the person that is doing the unacceptable acts. Quit drinking the Kool-Aid folks and use your common sense.

  22. SMH on June 19th, 2024 4:27 pm

    I have always been told that birds of a feather flock together. It is very hard to believe that close friends who attends the same parties and interact with the same people, are not involved in doing the same kinds of things. As people, we just don’t hang around or associate with people that we have nothing in common with. And especially, with Gaetz being a politician, you’re just not going to put yourself at risk by being in that kind of environment if you’re not participating. His friend has already been convicted of his crimes and I don’t believe for one minute that Matt Gaetz wasn’t involved in the same type of behavior. All it takes is common sense to figure out the truth.

  23. Plain Country on June 19th, 2024 3:12 pm

    @Eugene: You are exactly right sir!!

  24. Plain Country on June 19th, 2024 2:56 pm

    @Kate: I believe you have it all wrong. Isn’t a person innocent till proven guilty. You have broken God’s good rules by telling people how to vote before proven guilty. All you know is what the new media reports and what House Ethics Committee has told. Do we know the truth, I doubt it.

  25. Eugene on June 19th, 2024 2:28 pm

    A quote from the House Ethics Committee statement (shown within the text of this article): “The committee notes that the mere fact of an investigation into these allegations does not itself indicate that any violation has occurred”. The truth is hidden in plain sight…..no violation has occurred , yet the investigation will continue. Wow, sounds eerily similar to that which President Trump and his attorneys have been enduring for YEARS.

  26. Retribution on June 19th, 2024 1:38 pm

    I am always suspicious when things like this always seem to magically happen at election time. Rep. Gaetz has made some powerful enemies on the Hill in Washington and I personally have little doubt this is payback for that. Remember, the folks in Washington don’t have Sunshine Laws; they do most of their work behind closed doors and in the darkness.

  27. boss on June 19th, 2024 12:59 pm

    Would be interesting if they identified the members and party of the ethics committee. Just a thought..

  28. anne on June 19th, 2024 11:24 am

    He causes a certain feeling in some people. Listen to your gut on politicians.

  29. Haters Gonna Hate on June 19th, 2024 11:19 am

    Nothing-burger. Get back to work folks

  30. EMD on June 19th, 2024 10:54 am

    Get the COMMUNISTS out of the country before you go after ANYONE else. Our country is being destroyed, and most of our “reps” seem to just go along with whatever and whoever seeks to destroy our way of lite (the good part, that is).

  31. John on June 19th, 2024 10:09 am

    Learned a long time ago, where there is smoke there is fire. This probe is being conducted by his own party.

  32. Susie on June 19th, 2024 9:57 am

    Political nonsense on BOTH sides. The Committee on Ethics needs to look at themselves first and the present Administration before looking at others to blame for anything and everything. Grow up, stop the lies and the games. You have a beautiful Country to run! God bless America.

  33. Bill T on June 19th, 2024 9:28 am

    Always something and I would be willing to bet it’s democrats that are keeping the ball rolling !! This man has probably done absolutely nothing wrong I would be willing to bet !!!!

  34. NE res on June 19th, 2024 8:54 am

    Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty in 2021 to something similar and Stephen M. Alford was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for a failed blackmail scheme related to it

  35. Native on June 19th, 2024 8:42 am

    Where there’s smoke, generally there is fire. NW FL deserves better, yet continues to support someone more interested in grandstanding than in being an effective representative.

  36. Kate on June 19th, 2024 8:32 am

    Sad, to see an elected official behave in such a manner, if your Christian and vote for this man, you may have violated God’s good rules.

  37. Lou on June 19th, 2024 8:11 am

    Here we go again . The weaponization of our executive , judicial branches of government against the non ruling political party. We are living in very rough waters nowadays. Have we become a BANANA republic ? What has happened to the rule of law ? It is sad to see that anybody based on their political beliefs can be destroyed by the opposition. If they can do it to them , they can do it to you a regular person with limited value.

  38. JTV on June 19th, 2024 8:06 am

    It’s election time!! Time to smear the opponent they fear.

  39. Joseph Kanarkiewicz on June 19th, 2024 7:49 am

    No confidence in this guy .

  40. Bobby on June 19th, 2024 6:55 am

    There are way too many people who won’t care if they find Gaetz DID have sex with a minor, do illegal drugs or whatever else they may find. Blind loyalty has totally corroded any sense of holding your favorite politician responsible for his actions. Right or wrong can now be defined by your voter ID card. Sad thing for the GOP>