Bullet Points From Report
• From at least 2017 to 2020, Representative Gaetz regularly paid women forengaging in sexual activity with him
.• In 2017, Representative Gaetz engaged in sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl.
• During the period 2017 to 2019, Representative Gaetz used or possessed illegal drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy, on multiple occasions
.• Representative Gaetz accepted gifts, including transportation and lodging in connection with a 2018 trip to the Bahamas, in excess of permissible amounts.
• In 2018, Representative Gaetz arranged for his Chief of Staff to assist a woman with whom he engaged in sexual activity in obtaining a passport, falsely indicating to the U.S. Department of State that she was a constituent.
• Representative Gaetz knowingly and willfully sought to impede and obstruct the Committee’s investigation of his conduct.
• Representative Gaetz has acted in a manner that reflects discreditably upon the House
Underage Sex Portion
The Committee provided Representative Gaetz with the names of 15 women who were alleged to have received payments from him or on his behalf relating to sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, as well as the approximate payment amounts and transaction years, but he did not provide any explanation for those payments.
Representative Gaetz responded publicly to allegations that his payments to women were for sex by stating that “someone is trying to recategorize my generosity to ex-girlfriends as something more untoward.”105 He also repeatedly denied having ever paid for sex.106 When given the opportunity to put that assertion in writing in this matter, however, Representative Gaetz refused to respond, asserting that “asking about [his]sexual history as a single man with adult women is a bridge too far.
”Representative Gaetz did broadly address the allegation that he engaged in sexual activity with a minor; he asserted in his September 26, 2024, letter to the Committee: “Your correspondence of September 4 asks whether I have engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. The answer to this question is unequivocally NO. You can apply this response to every version of this question, in every forum.”107 The Committee’s September 4 letter, however,specifically asked him whether he was present at the July 15, 2017, party at Mr. Dorworth’s,whether he ever engaged in sexual activity with Victim A and when, and whether he ever gave Victim A money (directly or indirectly) and if so, for what purpose. Representative Gaetz did not answer any of those questions.
Shouldn’t the real story be why a 17 year old felt the need to become a sex worker? Isn’t that the actual systemic issue here?
No. There’s nothing in this particular case that can be extrapolated to “lots of teens out there forced into selling their bodies for money because of the system.”
This is one incidence and we don’t know her motivations. What we do know is that a fully mature adult, a sitting Congressman took advantage of a teen that was willing to sell sex.
Both are real stories. A sitting congressmen bought underage sex and brought her across state lines. Why was the girl selling herself for sex is another story.
It might not have been a need. Could just have been some extra cash for her. 400 bucks is no joke to a 17-year-old.
As if this can’t also be a “real story”.
False dichotomy.
Both are important stories. But I’m actually more concerned that a congressman hired one.