The House Ethics Committee has been conducting interviews with two women regarding former GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, who is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general. According to their attorney, Joel Leppard, the women testified that Gaetz paid them directly and repeatedly through Venmo transactions for sex. Moreover, they also mentioned that Gaetz inquired about “party favors” and “vitamins” in text messages, which were understood to be code for drugs.
Leppard, based in Orlando, stated that his clients attended parties from 2017 to January 2019 where Gaetz was present and where sex and drug use allegedly took place. One of the women testified before the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old girl at a party in July 2017. It is worth noting that all the events described by the women occurred while Gaetz was a member of the House of Representatives.
The Trump transition team did not provide any comments on the matter. A source familiar with Gaetz’s legal position questioned the credibility of the women and argued that their recollections would not have stood up to cross-examination in court.
Gaetz has vehemently denied all allegations against him, including having sex with a minor. He criticized the committee’s investigation as a “false smear” against him. Although federal prosecutors also looked into Gaetz’s conduct, they decided not to file charges against him in 2023.
The House Ethics Committee is currently deliberating whether to release its report, which investigated accusations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and bribery against Gaetz. Leppard emphasized that his clients want the public to know that they are telling the truth. One of the clients expressed in a text to Leppard that the public deserves to know the reality of what happened.
Leppard highlighted that his clients are not politically motivated and have never voluntarily spoken about the incidents without a legal subpoena. They want the truth to be known so that the public can make informed decisions about Gaetz’s character and suitability for the position of attorney general.
One of Leppard’s clients is among several women who have informed the committee that they were paid to attend parties involving drugs and sex where Gaetz was present. This corroborates the testimony of the minor who claimed to have had sexual relations with Gaetz when she was 17 years old.
At the party in July 2017 where the alleged incident occurred, Leppard’s client and others were expected to provide entertainment, be lively, and offer sexual favors to the male attendees. The women testified that they were paid by Gaetz through Venmo transactions, with payments ranging from $200 to $500 per transaction.
Furthermore, the women mentioned that sometimes, payments on Gaetz’s behalf were made by individuals close to him, such as Nestor Galban and Joel Greenberg. Despite the allegations, one of the clients testified that she did not believe Gaetz was aware of the minor’s age at the time.
Leppard also revealed that his clients provided over 100 text messages involving Gaetz to the committee. These texts often included reminders for payment and requests for drugs using coded language like “party favors” and “vitamins.” However, the women could not specifically recall witnessing Gaetz use drugs.
The House Ethics Committee had planned to vote on releasing its report, but the meeting was canceled after Trump announced his nomination of Gaetz for attorney general, followed by Gaetz’s abrupt resignation from Congress. The committee is now scheduled to meet to discuss the matter further.
House Speaker Mike Johnson urged the committee to withhold the report on Gaetz’s investigation. Democratic and Republican senators who would vote on Gaetz’s confirmation as attorney general have expressed the desire to review the ethics panel’s report before making a decision.
In conclusion, the allegations against Gaetz are serious and have raised concerns about his behavior and suitability for public office. The testimonies provided by the women involved shed light on a disturbing pattern of behavior that needs to be thoroughly investigated and addressed. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact Gaetz’s future and his potential confirmation as attorney general.
