By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-18 18:54:52 | Updated at 2024-12-18 21:52:51
2 hours ago
Former firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz admitted Wednesday to being a party animal and womanizer in his 30s as a young lawmaker on Capitol Hill — but vehemently denied accusations that he had sex with a minor.
The Sunshine State Republican seethed in a series of X posts at reports that the House Ethics Committee is set to release a potentially damning report on his alleged sexual misconduct, including that he paid women for sex during his time as a congressman.
“My 30’s 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,” Gaetz, 42 wrote.
“I live a different life now. But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s that f— over the country!”
The Florida Republican resigned from Congress on Nov. 13 — hours after President-elect Donald Trump tapped him to be the next US attorney general — but a steady drumbeat of sex misconduct allegations from the congressional ethics probe and an earlier Justice Department investigation eventually led to him withdrawing from the confirmation fight.
The news of the ethics report’s release apparently lit a fire under the congressman, who later floated in another X post that he was considering coming back to Congress in January just to file a privileged motion “to expose every ‘me too’ settlement paid using public funds (even of former members).”
“Someone suggested the following plan to me: 1. Show up 1/3/2025 to congress 2. Participate in Speaker election (I was elected to the 119th Congress, after all…) 3. Take the oath 4. File a privileged motion to expose every “me too” settlement paid using public funds (even of former members) 5. Resign and start my [One America News] program at 9pm EST on January 6, 2025.”
Privileged motions must be considered within 48 hours of being filed. Gaetz in still other posts also referenced past reports about millions of taxpayer-dollars in a congressional slush fund being paid out to settle sex harassment claims against lawmakers.
He was first sworn into Congress in 2017 after having served in the Florida state legislature since 2010. Rumors about his partying days have long swirled around Congress.
At least three accusers have alleged that as a lawmaker he paid them in exchange for sex, according to their lawyers. Some of these payments were recorded on Venmo.
The intercourse with the then-minor allegedly took place at a party in July 2017. And there is at least one other witness who attested to that, per the accusers’ lawyers.
Joel Leppard, an attorney who represents the two accusers who weren’t minors at the time has publicly suggested that the witness said “her understanding was that Matt Gaetz did not know that [the 17-year-old] was a minor, ABC News reported
“And that when he learned that she was a minor, that he broke off things and did not continue a sexual relationship until she turned 18.”
Gaetz has repeatedly denied accusations of wrongdoing, but on Wednesday he was even more specific.
“In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court,” he wrote on X.
After President-elect Donald Trump named him as US attorney general designee, lawmakers began clamoring for the Ethics panel to divulge its findings on him. The committee had deadlocked over whether to do so.
Ultimately, Gaetz bowed out of the running for the role and is set to join One America News Network as an anchor.
The Justice Department had investigated the claims against Gaetz — but ultimately declined to press charges against him and closed the matter in 2021.
“I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me,” Gaetz added on X.
“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. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued.”
Many Republicans had been particularly angry with Gaetz over his ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) last year.
The former rep spearheaded that mutiny with seven other GOP members against him in protest of McCarthy’s effort to forestall a government shutdown in the fall of last year.
McCarthy has repeatedly alleged that Gaetz wanted him to intervene on his behalf and kill the ethics investigation.
Gaetz has denied that claim. On Wednesday, he decried the Ethics panel for not giving him an opportunity to defend himself.
“House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body,” Gaetz added on X.
He married his wife Lucky Gaetz in a small nuptial ceremony on Catalina Island in August 2021 after meeting at a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser the year before.
