Donald Trump Comes to Matt Gaetz’s Defense, Says Ethics Report ‘Very Unfair’

What’s New

Matt Gaetz shared a note he said he received from President-elect Donald Trump describing a report from the House Ethics Committee into allegations of misconduct against him as “very unfair.”

The former House Republican posted a photograph of the note, written on an article about the report from conservative leaning outlet The Federalist, on X on Monday. Gaetz added: “I got a great note from President Trump.”

When contacted by Newsweek, Trump transition team spokesperson Steven Cheung said: “Merry Christmas, James” with no further comment. Newsweek contacted Matt Gaetz on Tuesday outside of regular office hours via email.

Why It Matters

The House Ethics Committee on Monday released its long-awaited report into Gaetz, which concluded there was “substantial evidence” the Florida Republican had violated House rules concerning “prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress.”

Gaetz disputed the report’s findings in a series of social media posts.

Trump had nominated Gaetz to be the next attorney general, overseeing the same Justice Department that launched an investigation into him, though the Florida Republican later withdrew himself from consideration following a public backlash. The note suggests Trump is continuing to stand by Gaetz, who was re-elected for another term in the House in November, but stood down from Congress after receiving the attorney general nomination.

What to Know

The Ethics Committee report concluded there was “substantial evidence” that Gaetz broke a succession of House rules including paying a 17-year-old girl for sexual intercourse in 2017, which counts as statutory rape under Florida law.

Gaetz had been the subject of a Department of Justice investigation into alleged sex trafficking concerning the 17-year-old girl, though he was not charged with any crimes. In 2021, Joel Greenberg, a former Gaetz associate, pled guilty to a slew of charges including sex trafficking a minor, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

In a series of X posts, Gaetz denied any wrongdoing, claiming some of the funds the report linked to prostitution were actually gifts to a woman he was dating.

He said: “Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t ‘charged’ for sex is now prostitution?!? There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.”

Trump’s note to Gaetz was written on what appeared to be a printed copy of an article by The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway, titled: “House Probe Into Matt Gaetz Relies On Witness DOJ Found Lacked Credibility.” It claimed the Ethics Committee report relied on “two central witnesses” with “serious credibility issues.”

The report had been due for release shortly after Gaetz stood down from the House in November after being nominated for the attorney general role. Gaetz took legal action in a failed bit to block its publication, arguing this shouldn’t take place as he was no longer a member of Congress.

What People Are Saying

In a post on X, Yale Review editor James Surowiecki said: “I am a little baffled by Matt Gaetz’s continued insistence that it’s normal to just send cash to women you’re casually dating.”

Lawyer Tristan Snell posted: “Sex trafficking, sex trafficking of a minor, statutory rape, cocaine/ecstasy use, bribery, abuse of his office, obstruction of justice. Federal prosecutors knew ALL this about Matt Gaetz. And yet they didn’t charge him with anything — they let him walk.”

House Republican Andy Biggs wrote: “The probe into Matt Gaetz relies on the testimony of witnesses even Biden’s corrupt DOJ found to be not credible.

“But the Swamp still proceeded to waste time and money with this smear campaign. Where is Epstein’s client list?”

Heath Mayo, a lawyer and self-styled conservative Christian, posted: “Summary of the Matt Gaetz ethics report. This is what happens when you have no moral standards for those you elect. You get complete trash walking the halls of Congress who abuse their offices to have sex with little girls. Thanks, MAGA.”

What Happens Next

Trump’s note suggests the president-elect thinks Gaetz is both innocent and hard done by, raising the prospect of him being offered another job by the incoming administration.

Gaetz has indicated he could be interested in the Florida Senate seat left vacant by Marco Rubio, though the Ethics Committee report would almost certainly be used against him in any election campaign.