Topline

The controversy over whether former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., committed sexual misconduct has escalated in recent days after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him as attorney general, with the House Ethics Committee set to meet Wednesday about potentially releasing a report into the allegations as new claims about Gaetz’s “sex parties” with young women come to light.

Key Facts

Key Background

The Justice Department’s investigation into Gaetz stemmed from charges they brought against his associate Joel Greenberg, a former tax collector who took a plea deal in 2021, pleading guilty to charges including child sex trafficking and wire fraud. He was later sentenced to 11 years in prison. Multiple outlets reported at the time that Greenberg had given law enforcement information about Gaetz, alleging both he and the lawmaker paid women for sex—which would violate federal sex trafficking laws—as investigators reportedly probed whether Greenberg procured women for Gaetz. The Washington Post and CNN reported in 2021 that Gaetz “boasted” about women he met through Greenberg and showed colleagues videos of nude women, whom the Post reported appeared to be adults, but Gaetz has long denied that he has paid for sex or has had sex with minors. The DOJ reportedly ended its investigation into Gaetz in 2023 without bringing any charges, after prosecutors reportedly believed two central witnesses—Greenberg and one of Gaetz’s ex-girlfriends—could have credibility issues with a jury if the charges went to trial. Greenberg was previously charged with fabricating information about a political rival.

Will The House Committee Report Be Released?

It remains to be seen whether the report on Gaetz will be released: The House technically no longer has jurisdiction over Gaetz now that he’s resigned, though the Associated Press notes that while extremely rare, the House has released reports on former members in the past. For instance, the committee released a report into former Rep. Bill Boner, D-Tenn., and his relationship with a government contractor in 1987, Punchbowl News noted. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he recommends the report not be released. Leppard told Politico his media blitz describing his clients’ allegations is an effort to persuade lawmakers to release the report, saying his clients “have already been through this several times and they really, really do not want to testify again, especially not on the floor of the Senate.” Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., also told The Wall Street Journal he thinks the report should only be released privately to senators, raising the possibility the report could be released to lawmakers but not made public. Watchdog group American Oversight has also separately sued the Justice Department for materials related to its Gaetz investigation, arguing there’s “an elevated and significant public interest in the quick release of these records.”

What Could The Report Say?

The House Ethics Committee’s investigation focused on whether 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,” according to a statement it released in June. While it’s unclear what specific allegations the report could include, it could include details from previous depositions, including one from the minor Gaetz allegedly had sex with, and one from her friend. Both women were deposed as part of a civil lawsuit that Gaetz’s friend Christopher Dorworth brought against Greenberg and the alleged minor, and while their depositions are still under seal, CNN notes other testimonies reference what they said. Both the then-underage woman and a friend of hers testified under oath to having sex with Gaetz at a party—with the alleged minor claiming she had sex with Gaetz on an air hockey table with Dorworth present—and that there were drugs at the gathering including “alcohol, cocaine, ecstasy also known as molly, and marijuana.” (Dorworth denied those allegations, claiming in his deposition that the women made up the stories and he believed “people would lie themselves into these stories because of Matt’s political celebrity,” as quoted by CNN.) The House committee has also spoken to those same witnesses, CNN reports.

Chief Critic

Gaetz has vehemently denied the allegations against him, saying in 2021, “I have never paid for sex. I have never had sex with an underage person as an adult. I have dated women in college and graduate school, and have boasted about how great they are across the board, as boyfriends do. At times women I have dated have joined me at campaign events.” He has maintained that denial, and a spokesperson told ABC News last week about Leppard’s claims that his client witnessed him have sex with a minor: “Merrick Garland's DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn't charge him. Are you alleging Garland is part of a cover up?” Trump spokesperson Pfeiffer emphasized to Forbes Monday that the “Biden Justice Department investigated Gaetz for years and cleared him of wrongdoing,” arguing, “The only people who went to prison over these allegations were those lying about Matt Gaetz.” The Trump transition team is also reportedly ramping up its efforts to support Gaetz’s confirmation, with Bloomberg reporting that Vice President-elect JD Vance is arranging meetings between Gaetz and GOP senators and NBC reporting Trump is “working the phones” on Gaetz’s behalf.

Will Matt Gaetz Actually Become Attorney General?

Trump named Gaetz as his attorney general pick last week—one of a number of controversial Cabinet appointments the president-elect has made—immediately garnering scrutiny from even GOP lawmakers. The former Congressman, while licensed as an attorney, only briefly practiced law and does not have any prosecutorial or management experience in the government. Anonymous sources cited by The Wall Street Journal suggested that anywhere between 12 to more than 30 Republican lawmakers could oppose Gaetz’s confirmation, making it unclear if Gaetz’s Senate confirmation will ultimately fail, or if Republicans will end up falling in line. Trump has suggested he wants to get around the Senate confirmation process by using recess appointments to confirm appointees, a process in which Trump could install nominees without Congress if the Senate has been adjourned for at least 10 days. It’s uncertain if Congress would allow such a lengthy adjournment in order to allow Trump to get his nominees through, however. Democrats are also reportedly ramping up their planned opposition to Gaetz’s confirmation, Politico reported Monday, particularly as Senate Democrats still have control of the chamber before Republicans take over in January. Democratic lawmakers are considering requesting Gaetz’s FBI file while they still can, as well as making contact with attorneys Leppard and Clune so they can discuss their clients’ allegations—and potentially speak with the women themselves—as they gear up for the confirmation fight. Democrats ultimately cannot block Gaetz’s nomination on their own, however, as Republicans have a large enough majority to pass Trump’s nominees without any Democrat votes.

Further Reading

ForbesDamning Gaetz Report Could Be Made Public Despite His Resignation From Congress—As Johnson Discourages Its Release ForbesTrump’s AG Pick Matt Gaetz Faces GOP Backlash—Raising Doubts About Senate Vote ForbesTrump’s Cabinet: Here’s Who Will Fill Key Roles—FCC’s Brendan Carr, Karoline Leavitt And More ForbesGaetz Resigns From House Before Ethics Report Can Be Released