Ex-Trump nominee 'paid for sex with girl'

A House of Representatives ethics committee report on Matt Gaetz, the former Florida Republican congressman, found "substantial evidence" that he engaged in sex trafficking and paid for sex with a minor, among other serious violations of state law and congressional rules.

- Robert Tait and Joseph Gedeon

The investigation concludes that Gaetz, Trump's first pick for attorney general, made payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex and drugs on at least 20 separate occasions.

The report also states that in 2017 Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex when he was 35, which would constitute statutory rape under Florida state law.

"The committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated house rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or" privileges, and obstruction of Congress ”, the Republican-led panel wrote in the investigation.

The committee determined that Gaetz regularly used illegal drugs including cocaine and ecstasy between 2017 and 2020, and appears to have set up a pseudonymous email account from his House office to purchase marijuana, violating state laws and house ethics rules.

The committee believes that Gaetz “knowingly and willfully” attempted to obstruct the investigation, including failing to comply with subpoenas, withholding evidence, providing misleading responses and making false public statements .